A friend in need is a friend indeed – Friends look after our Savernake Hospital nursing staff

Local health charity, the Friends of Savernake Hospital and the Community, has for the past three weeks been coordinating and funding efforts to help staff at Savernake Hospital.  They have co-ordinated the provision and delivery of sandwiches, hot meals and packed lunches.

Trudi Granger, Administrator of the Friends told Marlborough.news: “We all know that NHS staff are doing a sterling job country-wide during the COVID-19 crisis. This includes our wonderful local NHS staff at Savernake Hospital.

We became aware that the Savernake staff – already busier than usual managing staff absences due to self-isolation, and regular volunteers being asked to stay away – were missing out on nourishing meals and snacks whilst on shift, due to the required closure of the Hospital Café and Friends Shop on site.  Furthermore, they were finishing their shifts only to find the shelves of the local supermarkets bare of essential items.”

The Friends contacted Sue Brady at Sue Brady Catering who usually provides hot meals for many of the local primary schools.   With the closure of the local schools to most children, Sue had the capacity to provide lunches to hospital staff on weekdays.  

“Almost immediately the arrangement was put in place, thanks to the willingness of Sue to pitch in at short notice,” commented Trudi. 

Weekend meals for Savernake hospital staff have been provided by The Roebuck at half-price. The Friends were able to pay for these lunches for weekend staff until the Roebuck had to close on April 4.

This extra support has helped to boost staff morale at a very difficult time.  The Friends are now intending to provide supplies of tea bags, coffee and biscuits.

Tesco Marlborough has agreed to provide the first “ration pack” which will be delivered to Savernake Hospital this week.  After that, the Friends will buy and deliver what’s needed, and make sure that the weekly delivery continues.

Trudi said, “The Friends would like to thank Sue Brady Catering, The Roebuck and Tesco – and all those who have helped look after our local NHS staff at Savernake Hospital with this initiative – and of course, a very big thank you goes to the continuing work of all our NHS staff at this time.”

If you would like to know more about the work of the Friends, please visit  – www.friendsofsavernake.org   or the Facebook page, or contact our administrator – info@friendsofsavernake.org