Free parking and meals for NHS frontline Hospitals put ban on most visiting
SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk NHS Trust has announced it will be giving staff free meals and parking for four months during the coronavirus outbreak.
The gesture comes at a time when NHS staff are battling on the frontline against the virus.
In an email sent round to colleagues at the hospitals, chief executive Trish Armstrong-Child said the gesture was in “recognition of our fantastic staff.”
The free parking and free meals from the hospital restaurants will take place from April 1.
Ms Armstrong-Child said: “In recognition of our fantastic staff, from April 1 for the next four months, staff parking will be free of charge and we will offer free meals to all staff in our restaurants.
“This applies to you all, across both sites. In the meantime we will continue to keep you as up to date as we can.
“The most important thing we can do right now is come together as a team and look after each other.”
The chief executive also reminded staff that their “best is good enough” and they had her full support.
The news comes as letters were being sent to more than 65,000 retired doctors and nurses in England and Wales asking them to return to the NHS to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
The government also pledged to ensure all hospitals have enough protective gear and ventilators.
SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk hospitals are stopping patient visiting from today.
The move to hel protect patients, staff and the community, follows the latest government advice restricting social contact and unnecessary travel.
The decision comes after restrictions imposed on March 18 by the hospitals which limited visiting to one hour a day.
Families and friends are now asked not to visit hospital other than by arrangement.
Visits will be permitted in exceptional circumstances on an individual basis which will be agreed with the nurse in charge of the ward.
Separate arrangements will apply to: ● Maternity and women in labour – one birthing partner per patient. ● Child inpatients – one carer per child.
Chief executive Trish Armstrong-Child said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly but it is in line with the government’s instructions on Tuesday to minimise social contact during the current situation.
“Please consider other ways of speaking with your loved ones, such as by phone or video calling.”
The trust said that it was also exploring other opportunities to support inpatients and hel families keep in touch.