Thousands of thank yous!

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would like to thank the people of Bradford and beyond for their incredible support during the Covid-19 crisis.

The Trust’s charitable arm – Bradford Hospitals’ Charity – has been co-ordinating fundraising efforts and donations via its NHS Hospital Heroes appeal since it was launched at the end of March.

More than £10,000 has now been via the Bradford Hospitals’ Charity Just Giving page, with a further £40,000 received in grants to support staff, and an incredible £45,000 received from an anonymous donor, totalling almost £100,000.

Further to this, a staggering £40 million has been raised via the national NHS Charities Together Emergency Covid-19 Appeal – of which Bradford Hospitals’ Charity is a member.

Bradford Hospitals’ Charity has also been inundated with donations of food and drink, toiletries, PPE and scrubs. While some have been donated by businesses, schools and other charities, many have also been paid for and donated by individuals from across the district. Some of the most notable donations have ranged from the use of a house, apartments and the use of an aeroplane.

The community has been so generous with donations, that the charity and Trust are now working with other charities across the district to ensure food and essentials are shared and reach those most in-need.

Cash donations have come from across Bradford and beyond, with one $5,000 donation from New York.

Mel Pickup, Chief Executive of Bradford Teaching Hospitals and Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, said: “I cannot thank the people of Bradford enough for the kindness and generosity they have shown throughout this crisis.

“We have been overwhelmed with donations and we are truly grateful for everything we have received. We are listening to our staff and will be using the funds raised locally and nationally to support them during this crisis and long after it has ended.

“These are really tough times for us here at the Trust, but we are made of strong stuff and it really helps to know that we have the people of Bradford behind us.”

Max McLean, Chair of Bradford Teaching Hospitals and Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, launched the NHS Hospital Heroes Appeal on 27 March. He said: “The people of Bradford have really stepped up in this crisis. They have shown just how much they value and appreciate the sacrifices our NHS workers are making by going to great lengths to help in any way they can. Your support means so much to us all.”

Hayley Collis, head of fundraising for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, said: “Our charity has worked in partnership with Bradford Teaching Hospitals since the NHS was formed, more than 70 years ago, funding millions of pounds worth of kit, projects, research, training and staff support over the years.

“Our Trust, and the NHS as a whole, is facing a crisis like never before, which is why we launched our NHS Hospital Heroes appeal. With the funds we raise and the donations we receive, we will ensure our hospital staff, and the patients they are so selflessly caring for, are looked after and supported in the very best way possible.

“Thank you, Bradford, for your incredible response to our appeal. We will be forever grateful.”

The £45,000 anonymous donation to Bradford Hospitals’ Charity has been used to purchase an industry-leading clinical decision support tool – UpToDate.com. The app can be accessed via phones or computers and provides clinicians with evidence-based clinical content, providing staff with information at their fingertips, helping them tackle Covid-19 and other conditions. The app went live on Thursday 9 April across Bradford Teaching Hospitals, helping doctors and nurses make critical decisions quickly.

Money raised via Bradford’s NHS Hospital Heroes appeal will be used for a variety of items and projects, including comfort packs for staff (which include toiletries), clothing, equipment for staff ‘wobble rooms’ which provide a quiet place to reflect (such as appliances), and items to establish a Trust ‘listening service’ which will provide support to staff throughout the crisis.

NHS Charities Together’s national Covid-19 Appeal fund will be distributed to all member NHS charities – of which Bradford Hospitals’ Charity is one – in the form of grants to be used to support staff during the crisis and after it has ended.

To find out more about the Bradford Hospitals’ Charity’s NHS Hospital Heroes appeal visit https://bradfordhospitalscharity.org/nhshospitalheroes/. If you would like to fundraise or donate, please visit the charity’s Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/BTHFTCovid-19

If any businesses would like to donate items, please contact our charity on [email protected] or call 01274 274809. A list of items most needed, and those we are unable to accept, can be found on the appeal page of the website. All donation drop-offs must be pre-arranged to ensure safety for all.