THE HARLEQUINS FOUNDATION LAUNCH NHS FUNDRAISING APPEAL
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Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is playing a central role in responding to the COVID 19 outbreak across our communities. The hospitals are now preparing for a significant increase in patients needing support on their intensive care units over the coming weeks, including at our local hospital, West Middlesex. Plans include accelerating the opening of 10 new Intensive Care beds, embedding new digital solutions to monitor and communicate with patients and carers, providing enhanced training for staff and deploying a skilled volunteer workforce to support the needs of both patients and staff.
In response to this and in consultation with clinicians and managers across the hospitals, they have launched the COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund through their charity (CW+) to help their staff provide the best possible care for these patients. The fund is designed to accelerate and increase their intensive care bed capacity and provide support for frontline staff at a time of unprecedented demand on their services.
The COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund will support the hospitals in three key areas:
NEW EQUIPMENT
Including scanners, blood gas machines and patient vital-sign monitors
NEW TECHNOLOGY
Including remote monitoring devices, digital consultation tools and tablets
SUPPORT FOR FRONTLINE STAFF
Including the creation and establishment of Health and Wellbeing hubs at their hospitals to provide respite, information and refreshment for their teams; and the recruitment and deployment of a specialist volunteer workforce to support staff and patients on their wards and across the organisation.
Head of Foundation Marc Leckie commented: “I was on a humbling call with the hospital last Friday when I heard how much pressure the staff are under and it will come as no surprise that we want to help. We are re-focusing as much of our capacity as possible to provide support and raise much needed funds during this crisis. We are also working closely with CW+ to identify how we might provide support to the staff and their families in the long term.”
You can donate here.