• I WANTED to write to thank your readers for their amazing kindness over the past few weeks.

Across Whittington Health NHS Trust we have been humbled by the support and generosity that we have received.

From making and delivering thousands of hot meals, donating chocolates, hand-creams and other treats, providing NHS staff with freebies and discounts to the team of volunteer flight and cabin crew who have set up a “first class lounge” in our hospital, your kindnesses have been overwhelming.

Incredibly, our Covid-19 staff emergency welfare fund has topped £100,000. This money is being spent on things like new furniture for staff rest areas, little things to make things easier for staff such as mobile phone chargers (essential when working a long shift) and food, drinks and snacks to keep them going.

We have also been able to provide discharge packs with essential food and toiletries for patients when supermarket stocks were low or because they could not get out of the house because they needed to shield themselves.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us, donated to us, clapped for us, sent us cards, letters and emails or simply stayed at home to stop the spread. When things were tough, it really did feel like, as a community, we really were all in it together.

We hope you all stay healthy and safe, and that you continue to support the NHS in the future as you have done in recent weeks.

BARONESS JULIA NEUBERGER
Chair, Whittington Health NHS Trust