Lockdown 2 has seen a revival of weekly “goody parcels” for hard-working ward staff at North Walsham War Memorial Hospital.
Boxes of fruit, snacks and drinks are being delivered to the unit each Wednesday by the hospital Friends group to help feed the nursing and ancillary staff, and boost their morale.
Feedback from staff is that they are very grateful for the treats, whose arrival is something they look forward to during weeks where the workload continues to be very hard with staff doing 12-hour shifts in full anti-Covid protective equipment.
During the first lockdown the Friends provide 15 weeks’ worth of parcels for a cost of around £1500 – using money donated by the public to further the aims of the Friends, which is to provide extras for patients, staff and visitors.
Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said this week: “When the second lockdown started it seemed right to resume the service, because we know it is appreciated by the staff who are doing a terrific job in difficult conditions.“
North Walsham War Memorial is now the main community hospital in Norfolk dealing with Covid-19 patients needing extra nursing after discharge from the county’s three acute units in Norwich, Gorleston and King’s Lynn.
Several of the Friends’ other ongoing projects are on ice due to the pandemic, including planning the normal Christmas carol singing visit by the Broadland Youth Choir. But we are still aiming to provide our usual Christmas gifts for patients and hampers for staff – without the usual in-hospital handovers.
