Thank You appeal launched again to help QA Hospital heroes in Portsmouth

In March last year, The News launched a Thank You Appeal with Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, which runs Queen Alexandra Hospital, and the Portsmouth Hospitals Charity to thank staff for their dedication during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and raised more than £47,000.

Now amid the second wave, which has seen intensive care staff look after three times the number of patients they usually would, Portsmouth Hospitals Charity boss, Kate Sandys, is urging residents to support NHS staff once again.

She said: ‘Thanks to the generosity of supporters, Portsmouth Hospitals Charity has been able to support staff throughout 2020 and we are so grateful for every donation.

‘We would love to continue to support our colleagues during these challenging times, but to do this we will need your help! Together we can stand alongside our QA hospital heroes and support them as they continue to look after loved ones from our community.’

The cash donated from individuals, organisations and businesses, alongside grants from NHS Charities Together, has meant the charity can fund projects and initiatives to support staff as well as installing new outdoor picnic benches, a stocked ice cream freezer, massage chairs for a staff wellbeing room and new water coolers.

SEE ALSO: Portsmouth hospital bosses plead for people the follow the rules to stop spread of Covid-19

Boost boxes filled with treats have also been sent out across the hospital to boost the morale of the more than 9,000 staff that work at the trust.

Senior staff nurse for renal and transplantation, Elizabeth Muldoon said: ‘Thank you to everyone who donated to the appeal, as well as to the Portsmouth Hospitals Charity Team for getting the Boost Box to us, it was a lovely gift for all the staff.

‘It was much appreciated and will be put to good use by our amazing staff.’

To donate visit justgiving.com/campaign/qahospitalheroes

Or text HELPQA and the amount you wish to donate to 70085 (for example HELPQA5 to donate £5, or HELPQA10 to donate £10).

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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