NHS worker who forgot bank card full of tears after kind stranger paid petrol bill
HE SETTLED £70 CHARGE AS WAY OF THANKING HEALTH WORKERS
AN NHS worker was “moved to tears” after a kind stranger paid for her fuel after she forgot her bank card while on the way to work at the Derby Arena vaccination centre.
Gemma Wood filled up her car with around £70 worth of petrol at Sainsbury’s, at Kingsway Retail Park, while on her way to the Pride Park arena on Saturday.
But the 38-year-old, a breastfeeding support worker from Burton, then realised she did not have her bank card as it was in another uniform.
Ms Wood says she was left “mortified” until a good Samaritan stepped in to foot the bill as his way of thanking NHS workers for their work during the Covid-19 pandemic,.
She said: “After I had filled up my car with about £70 worth of petrol, I went to pay and I realised that I did not have my bank card with me, as I had left it in my other uniform.
“I was mortified, and I had to stand away from the till to the side of the shop and was fiddling about trying to sort out my Apple Pay.
“A few minutes later, the cashier called me over and said that a man in the shop had paid for my petrol, and they gave me a receipt to show that the man had paid the full amount. He must have been in the queue behind me and heard me on the phone trying to sort out my card.
“After that I quickly ran out of the shop to try to find the man. He was luckily still outside and about to get into his car when I caught him.
“I thanked him for paying for my petrol and he told me that he really appreciated the NHS and that he wanted to do it as a way of thanking the NHS workers.
“I was flustered, and when I got back to my car, I had a little cry. It was a genuine act of kindness.”
Ms Wood, who has been working for the NHS at St Oswald’s in Ashbourne over the last year, says little acts of kindness like this act as something that brings people together.
She said: “Working over the last year has been a bit of a rollercoaster. I’ve been redeployed twice offering support to new mothers.
“I have also been working with Covid patients, which was scary but I loved working with people.
“I’m now based at the vaccination centre, and to see the people coming through the doors every day, everyone is so happy. It is such a privilege to work for the
NHS.”
Ms Wood said she has since been in contact with the man who paid for the petrol. However, he has said he does not want his identity to be made public. She has also said that she will donate the money to Doorways, a charity providing support to the homeless in the Derbyshire area. She added: “I think he is a true gent. I felt so overwhelmed and grateful. I have spoken to him since through Facebook and thanked him again for what he did.
“In these times, it is random acts of kindness that bring us together. I have had people this year who have seen me in my uniform and come to me to personally thank me for the work the NHS is doing. “Random acts of kindness like that are what is getting us all through these crazy times and your good turn will be repaid.”
I was flustered, and when I got back to my car, I had a little cry. It was a genuine act of kindness. Gemma Wood