How Yorkshire businesses can help to support our NHS staff

Yorkshire businesses are being urged to come together and help support healthcare workers during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

In an impassioned plea, Town Centre Securities boss Edward Ziff, inset, is calling on the region’s business community to donate funds or services to support hospitals as staff battle to help those impacted by the pandemic.

Mr Ziff is chairman of Leeds Cares, the charity partner of Leeds Teaching Hospitals, who have launched an urgent appeal to support the 18,000 healthcare workers and hospital staff.

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Donations will provide vital support to staff during this busy time; paying for care packages, assistance with travel and accommodation where needed, as well as helping to fund other health and wellbeing initiatives to boost staff morale.

NHS staffNHS staff
NHS staff

Mr Ziff has made the call to arms in an open letter in which he relates his own personal experience with the NHS in the city, with his son, Jacob, having been cured of leukaemia in his youth by Leeds Children’s Hospital.

He wrote: “The past few weeks have seen unprecedented scenes around the world and, in the UK, we’re now also facing an uncertain time ahead.

“During this period, it’s important that we work together as one community and look out for each other.

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“Our NHS has been preparing for what comes next, and doctors and nurses in our region are working around the clock to meet demand across Yorkshire.

Edward ZiffEdward Ziff
Edward Ziff

“Nearly ten years ago, my own son Jacob was cured of childhood leukaemia by the wonderful NHS staff at Leeds Children’s Hospital. My family will be forever indebted to those staff for the care and compassion they showed to us during the most difficult time.

“Each of us will have our own stories about how the NHS has been there for us in a time of need. As the NHS prepares for its own difficult days ahead, I’m asking Yorkshire businesses to come together to do what we can to support our staff working on the frontline.”

Facilities owned by Town Centre Securities, including the Ibis Styles hotel, will be made available to Leeds Teaching Hospitals for as long as they need it. Leeds Cares works collaboratively with all of the hospitals across Leeds (including Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds Children’s Hospital, St James’s University Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary) to identify charitable projects and causes.

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Its CEO, Esther Wakeman, said; “This is an unprecedented situation for all of us and there will be some uncertain weeks ahead.

“However, during this time, staff in all of our hospitals will continue to go to work and put their patients first.

“The Leeds community is extremely generous and we hope that all those who can, will make a donation to support our NHS hospitals today.

“We’ve already seen wonderful support from local businesses who have been donating and I want to say a huge thank you as I recognise this is a challenging time for you too.”

What your donations could pay for:

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• £10 could pay for a comfort pack for staff who have to stay overnight at short notice

• £50 could stock up a snack area for staff working long hours

• £80 could pay for a hotel room for staff who need to stay close by or isolate from their families to keep working

• £200 could pay for an iPad for patients – supporting education of children and providing vital connections to loved ones

• £1,000 could pay for a hydration station to remain fully stocked with drinks and snacks for staff for a month

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