Thank You appeal for Portsmouth NHS staff hit £20,000 mark

The Portsmouth Hospitals Thank You Appeal has raised £20,000 for staff at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, including Queen Alexandra Hospital, and messages of support and gratitude have been left for those working on the front line during the coronavirus outbreak.

Among those who donated to the appeal, launched by The News at the beginning of May, was Sue Barrett-Wren, from Hayling Island.

She said: ‘The Respiratory Team at Queen Alexandra Hospital have been truly wonderful over the last few years caring for my Dad. I know they're going to be giving their all right now to all who need them.

‘I became aware of the appeal through Hayling Island Golf Club which has been promoting supporting the hospital as part of its Community Support campaign.

‘This struck a chord as due to regular treatments, my family are very familiar with the wonderful Respiratory Team at QA and while the whole of the NHS is doing an amazing job I thought it would be lovely to support our local heroes as a way of saying thank you.’

Since launching the appeal, Portsmouth Hospitals Charity has been working with staff from wards and departments to discuss how best to allocate and spend donations. Plans are being put in place to buy supplies and support staff with ongoing well-being initiatives.

Nicole Cornelius, director of workforce and organisational development, said: ‘The support we have received through this appeal has been amazing and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated.

‘The money will go towards supporting our hardworking colleagues across the organisation and introducing initiatives to help their physical and mental wellbeing now and in the future.’

If you would like to donate to the Portsmouth Hospitals Thank You Appeal, please visit the Portsmouth Hospitals Thank You Appeal Just Giving page at justgiving.com/campaign/QAhospitalheroes