KCHC Response to COVID-19 - Flipbook - Page 5
Practical and
essential help
Lives have been improved and spirits lifted thanks to
the thoughtfulness and generosity of our supporters.
Alongside our neighbouring community and local and
national funders, hundreds of people donated their
time, services and goods to benefit exhausted staff and
vulnerable patients, who were unable to access the very
basics. From coffee to hand cream, hot meals to clothing,
and many more items in between, the considerate
donations for staff and patients were so gratefully received.
Kay, a practice development nurse, explains that staff did
not have to worry about what they were going to eat when
they could not go outside or did not have time to queue in a
shop, “I could see that the night staff who were just finishing
had food to take home with them. They didn’t have to go
to the shops, they could just go straight home. It is those
little things that made a difference”. We also distributed
1,500 hero boxes for staff, which included shampoo,
conditioner, a toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, a
hairbrush, activity books and much more. “When you are
wearing all of that PPE you feel really gross”, says Laura,
who usually works as matron for paediatric outpatients
but had been redeployed to a paediatric COVID ward
during the first wave. “It’s horrible and all you want is to
do is wash your face or brush your teeth.” Sometimes, it
is the simple things that can make all the difference.
Toiletries: from shower gel and toothpaste to
luxury pampering products.
Food, drinks and groceries, including nutritious hot
meals for staff on COVID wards, groceries, fresh fruit,
vegetables and thousands of juices and smoothies.
Thousands of wellness boxes, containing uplifting
messages from the community and essential items
like toothpaste, tea and energy snacks.
4,000 surgical gowns to protect staff on the front line.
34 electronic tablets, of which 14 were generously
donated, to help patients stay in touch with loved ones.
Clothing, including t-shirts and sweatshirts, for
staff to change into after working long shifts.
“
After 12 hours in a PPE kit, you cannot
underestimate what a difference it
makes to be greeted with groceries
to take home or something to eat or
drink. It may seem small but to the
staff it is unbelievable. Just to know
people are thinking of us is more than
you can ever realise. Thank you.”
Professor Nicola Ranger, Chief Nurse & Executive Director
of Midwifery
Rehydration sachets, which prove so useful
for doctors and nurses who are unable to keep
themselves properly hydrated because of the
constraints of their PPE.
Face shields, hand-sewn face masks and linen
laundry bags with uplifting messages of support
and gratitude.
Snacks and treats, including Easter eggs that
lifted the spirits of patients and staff who were in
hospital and away from their families over Easter.
Three Theragun massage machines to help with
occupational therapy.
Magazines, activity books and DVDs to help combat
the boredom and loneliness of isolation.
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