HEALTH Staff Grateful For League Of Hospital Friends Support During Pandemic

STAFF at Inverclyde Royal Hospital have thanked Inverclyde League of Hospital Friends for their ongoing support during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The league normally provides a tea bar service for visitors, staff and patients seven days a week, but had to close it towards the end of March.

However, rather than doing nothing, the group decided to support staff working in the hospital and have been providing snacks and drinks throughout the lockdown.

The volunteers have laid on supplies of cups, coffee, tea, soft drinks, biscuits, crisps and more for the relaxation and recuperation (R&R) hub at the hospital.

The hub was set up during lockdown to give members of staff a space to rest away from their clinical environment.

Peter Hempsey, chair of Inverclyde League of Hospital Friends, said: “Although we have not been able to provide our everyday service to our tea bar customers since March, we have been pleased to support the hard-working staff at Inverclyde Royal Hospital at their R&R hub by providing complimentary drinks and snacks for their enjoyment while they are taking well-deserved breaks away from their wards and departments.

“We also funded ten iPads for use by patients in the hospital during lockdown to help them stay in touch with relatives and ten radios to help pass the time during their stay in hospital.

“Our volunteers are looking forward to re-opening the Helen Wyllie Tea Bar just as soon as the authorities indicate that we are able to so.”

Inverclyde League of Hospital Friends has been supporting the hospital with donations for almost 50 years. Between January 2019 and March 2020 more than £146,500 was donated for a range of equipment from pressure mattresses to an ice making machine. Overall, since being set up, the league has funded more than £2 million of equipment.

Marie Farrell, director of Clyde Sector, said: “We are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported our staff during the Covid-19 pandemic which has been one of the most challenging periods.

“Inverclyde League of Hospital Friends has been providing donations to Inverclyde Royal Hospital for a considerable number of years and during the pandemic was no exception. They have been keeping the staff in the hospital going with various snacks and drinks and our staff are immensely grateful for this continuing support.”

R&R hubs have been created across all hospitals in Greater Glasgow and Clyde and have been helping staff cope with the significant extra demands being placed on them during the Covid-19 pandemic.