£5k boost to help NHS staff through their “most challenging time”

A new appeal created to support staff at one of Cheshire and Merseyside’s biggest NHS hospital trusts in the fight against coronavirus has received a £5,000 donation within days of starting.

The official charity for Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Aintree, Broadgreen, the Royal and the Dental Hospital, started the Support Our Staff appeal after being overwhelmed with gifts and donations for staff in the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

And the appeal has been given a £5,000 boost after a donation by Dr Peter and Helen Pang, from Liverpool.

The couple have been supportive of the Trust ever since Dr Pang received treatment at St Paul’s Eye Unit, based in the Royal.

Their donations over the years have helped the Trust purchase equipment and facilities and their latest contribution will help support staff working in unprecedented circumstances as they care for increasing numbers of patients with coronavirus.

Dr Pang said: “The Trust is very close to both our hearts. The care I received at St Paul’s was truly exceptional and we are so pleased that we are in a position to help our city’s hospitals during the coming weeks and months, supporting NHS workers through what is set to be their most challenging time.”

Helen added: “It’s been a pleasure to work with the fundraising team over the past few years and to know that our donation towards the Support Our Staff appeal will be used to provide staff with essential items to make their lives just that little bit easier means so much to us as a family.”

A community hub has been created at the Royal to help co-ordinate the distribution of any future donations from businesses and also reduce the number of visitors to the Trust’s hospital sites to ensure people remain safe and well.

Lauren Davies, Head of Fundraising at the Trust, said: “We’ve been looking at ways we can support our staff during a particularly demanding time and even simple things like a cup of tea and a biscuit can make a huge difference.

“We’ve been humbled by the generosity of our local communities and businesses over the last few weeks and we’ve set up the community hub to help us work with businesses and co-ordinate donations so that we can get them distributed to staff across all of our hospitals. Safety is paramount and our hospitals now have very restricted visiting guidelines, so we are asking members of the public to stay home and not to drop in with gifts. Individuals can support our appeal through our Just Giving page.”

If your business would like to get involved, please call ‪07780 640 782‬ or email sfsdonations@liverpoolft.nhs.uk to discuss your donation and book a drop off slot.

If you would like to make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/NHSLiverpoolCovid

Monetary donations will allow the Trust to purchase items for staff working during the coronavirus pandemic.