John Lewis Partnership, in conjunction with the British Medical Association, will deliver care packages to Mental Health Trusts as work continues to battle the current crisis.
Mental Health Trusts in the UK are currently facing extreme pressures in caring for patients, many of whom are Covid positive or have been struggling to cope with self-isolation in recent weeks.
The care packages will ensure healthcare staff, often providing round-the-clock care, have the supplies they need during a long shift.
In total, the John Lewis Partnership will have delivered 1400 boxes containing over 100,000 essentials to 500 Hospital Trust locations during the pandemic. This includes care packages already delivered to UK-wide* Critical Care and Intensive Care units who will receive a second delivery later this month.
Based on advice from the British Medical Association, the care packages include a combination of much-needed items, including; toiletries, such as deodorant, shaving foam, hand cream, antibac hand gel and lip balm; as well as snack food, tea, coffee and socks. The boxes also contain a wellbeing leaflet with information about a 24/7 counselling service and guidance from the BMA on a range of issues.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, British Medical Association Council Chair, says: “Many mental health trusts are currently caring for those who are struggling with the UK lockdown or isolation, with staff going above and beyond to make sure everyone still gets the care and support they need.
“However, it’s just as important that staff also feel emotionally supported during this challenging time, and know how valued every single one of them is.
“A deed such as this can make all the difference, and we are truly grateful to John Lewis and Waitrose for supplying healthcare professionals with essential items they might otherwise have difficulty getting hold of. We hope these care packages help ease, even a little, the stress, and bring some comfort to those doing so much for patients on the NHS frontline.”
Sharon White, Partner & Chairman, John Lewis Partnership, says: “The John Lewis Partnership is extremely grateful for the courage and humanity of everyone in the NHS working tirelessly to fight this virus – from intensive care to mental health. We are exceptionally lucky to have an amazing health service open to all and this is a small token to show our thanks.”
The John Lewis Partnership has supported the NHS in a number of ways during the crisis, including giving NHS staff priority in Waitrose shops to ensure they are able to get through as quickly and easily as possible. John Lewis and Waitrose have gifted thousands of essential food items, hot meals and items such as pillows and phone chargers to local hospitals.
John Lewis has also supported a number of NHS Nightingale Hospitals and acute hospitals with wellbeing and multi-faith areas or with electrical products for staff areas. More recently, John Lewis reopened its textiles factory ‘Herbert Parkinson’ in Lancashire, to make protective gowns for the NHS. Partners who usually sew bespoke blinds, curtains and pillows and duvets will this week begin making around 8,000 clinical gowns for the Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust.
