Our NHS Heroes are continuing to care for patients across Edinburgh and the Lothians during COVID-19, the biggest health challenge of our lifetime.

With increasing infection rates and rising hospital admissions, our staff are continuing to work under increased pressure to provide vital care to their patients during this second wave. It can be hot and uncomfortable wearing PPE for long periods of time and continued hand washing is causing irritation. It is difficult to switch off and catch up on essential sleep in advance of the next shift.

Visiting has also been suspended for safety reasons and once again patients feel cut off from their loved ones. To help protect our NHS, all hospital entertainment such as live music, and arts and crafts has been put on hold, and with no visitors, the day can seem very long and miserable. Patients also have less access to essential items such as toiletry top-ups or clean clothes and pyjamas.

There is also a huge impact on our community teams. Patients discharged from hospital need support in their recovery at home and can experience other health complications as a result of having had Coronavirus. Staff working in community settings often care for the most vulnerable groups including the elderly, whom Coronavirus has affected the most.

Our NHS Lothian COVID-19 Appeal is raising money to support the physical and emotional wellbeing of staff and patients as well as fund additional equipment and technology that isnt provided by the NHS or Government.

Below are some of the ways you can support staff and patients now and in the future:

£1,000 could kit out a wellbeing room to help NHS staff look after their physical and mental wellbeing in between busy shifts

£500 could provide outdoor seating for staff to have a comfortable and welcoming outdoor space to rest, relax and take some much needed time out

£50 could purchase additional tablets to connect patients to their loved ones through virtual visiting and to access digital entertainment

£25 could provide hot drinks for 50 NHS staff members who are taking time out in our wellbeing rooms

£10 could provide an Art Pack to patients to help pass the time and look after their emotional wellbeing whilst staying in hospital

£5 could provide essential toiletries to patients such as toothpaste, soap or shampoo

As the official charity partner of NHS Lothian, we will be working together with our NHS colleagues to ensure we provide the correct support where and when it is most needed.

Your donations will make a difference to lives today.

We have updated our total money raised offline to reflect the money granted to us by NHS Charities Together.