When we think of hospital staff - and the incredible work they are doing right now - the image of dedicated doctors and nurses is probably what first comes to mind.

But the reality is our hospitals are made up of a community of different teams and roles, many behind the scenes, who all work together – day in day out – to keep our hospitals running.

One of those teams, that has never been more vital, is the domestic and portering staff working across all our hospitals. Today we would like to take a moment to thank them for all they are doing during these difficult days.

At the John Radcliffe, many of these staff work for a company called Bouygues. And we would also like to thank this company for a generous donation of £1,000 just before Christmas, which helped us fund gifts for young patients in hospital this Christmas.

Peter Galley, Contract Director at Bouygues, said: “We are proud to support Oxford Hospitals Charity and delighted that we helped to make Christmas special for the children who were in hospital over the festive period. We hope our contribution towards the charity’s gift appeal helped bring some joy and happiness to them and their families.”

Community Fundraising Manager from Oxford Hospitals Charity, Emily Waddell, thanked the company, saying: “As well as this generous donation, which made such a difference, Bouygues helped us to get our amazing Christmas trees up and even did some of the decorating.

"The support from companies in our community is really important. And we are always delighted to work with organisations who want to make a difference in their local hospitals.”

Thank you Bouygues, we really appreciate your support.

To find out more about how you or your company can make a difference to staff and patients across the John Radcliffe, Horton General, Churchill, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and Oxford Children’s Hospital please call o186 743 444 or email [email protected].

Thank you!

The teams working in our hospitals right now are in the midst of their greatest ever challenge.

With more than double the number of patients with covid, compared to the April peak, our NHS Staff are tired - emotionally and physically - but none the less rising to the challenge in the most extraordinary ways.

Oxford Hospitals Charity is here to support our local hospitals and, thanks to the generosity of our local community donating to our COVID - 19 appeal, we are also rising to the challenge to help both staff and patients throughout these difficult days.

Because of your donations we are able to send in regular supplies to raise the spirits of thousands of staff working across the John Radcliffe, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Horton General, and Churchill Hospitals.

Our charity links in daily with hospital ward staff, critical care teams, and groups working across the hospitals in a range of vital roles. We always ask the same question: ‘How can the charity help, what do you need?’ and provide bespoke support depending on the answers.

These may seem like little things, but carefully chosen items like fruit baskets, snacks, drinks, care packs and pizzas on a busy shift really do make a huge difference to the teams working in the midst of this cruel pandemic. And these are the things staff tell us are most helpful right now.

How you can help

To get these items in to as many teams as possible we are working with local suppliers who create large-scale boxes of support – each enough for a ward – and deliver these en-masse to the hospitals in a very coordinated way.

This is the safest way to work at the moment, and we encourage anyone wanting to help their hospitals to please not simply turn up on-site, but to contact us by email at [email protected] or phone 01865 743 444 or simply donate to our appeal.

Another important way we are helping is by creating tranquil spaces for staff away from the intensity of the ward and ICU environments. Respite Rooms are being organised across our hospitals and are designed to be as non-clinical as possible. Staff can use them for a few minutes during a break or at the end of a shift, to decompress and step away mentally from the stresses of their work.

And of course, the welfare of the many patients in our hospitals is also at the forefront of our minds. We know that with visiting severely restricted and many of the usual hospital activities not possible, many patients can feel isolated and lonely. 

As well as funding computer tablets to help connect families, and supplying a range of hundreds of phone and tablet chargers (thanks to a generous donation from ‘Juice) the charity has created thousands of activity packs for individual patients.

These include quizzes, puzzles and playing cards, alongside a few treats and wellbeing items like hand cream and lip balm. We are also funding and coordinating virtual Music on Wards through our arts and music programme – where a musician performs live via a computer tablet for patients – taking their musical requests and chatting with them to brighten their day.

Our youngest patients also have needed different support during the pandemic because the usual sharing of play spaces, toys, and books isn’t possible right now. Our charity works with the Children’s Hospital play specialists and the Hospital School to ensure individual activity packs  – like lego kits and craft activities - are available for children in hospital.

Our charity has always been there for our hospitals – but our work right now, fuelled by your support, feels more important than ever.

Thank you for helping us reach staff and patients across our hospitals.

You are part of our wonderful, supportive community within Oxfordshire and we are so glad to have you by our side. 

To find out more about how Oxford Hospitals Charity makes a difference across the wards and departments of your local hospitals, get in touch with the team via the methods below.  Tel: 01865 743 444 Email: [email protected]  MAKE A DONATION NOW     OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT Do remember to tick the Gift Aid box if you are a UK taxpayer, as that will increase your donation by 25 percent.