Free food is being offered up to NHS staff at St George’s and Queen Mary’s Hospitals this week as part of a season of thanks for frontline staff supported by St George’s Hospital Charity.
Jacqueline Totterdell, Group Chief Executive at St George’s and Epsom and St Helier, spent time serving food to staff and saying thank you directly for their efforts throughout the pandemic earlier today.
She said: “The last 18 months has been really challenging and it has tested us all, so I am so incredibly thankful to our teams who have continued to provide outstanding care to our patients at the most difficult of times.
She added: “The response of our staff has been – and continues to be – phenomenal which is why we are celebrating them with a three month Thank You George’s season to recognise their efforts in a whole number of ways including this week’s fab free food festival before we enter the challenging winter months.”
Dr Daniel Yiu, Junior Doctor on the Acute Medical Unit, had his free lunch served to him by Jacqueline Totterdell. He said: “It’s provided us with a very welcome break and it’s nice to feel appreciated after a couple of years of really hard work.”
Mark Sheridan, Occupational Therapy Technician, said: “It’s a lovely gesture. We’ve had a really tough period and we need to brace ourselves before a difficult winter too. It’s nice for everyone across the Trust to be thought of – events like these make us feel valued.”
Rita Curtis, Neuroradiology Nurse, said: “We work so hard, so to have this type of event with free food to say thank you is really well received. It’s a great opportunity to get teams together, away from the clinical area, as well.”
The festival is being jointly funded by the Trust and St George’s Hospital Charity and is being accompanied by live music while staff enjoy their freebie lunch.
Amerjit Chohan, Chief Executive of St George’s Hospital Charity, said: “I am delighted the Charity can help fund the ‘lunch on us’ event. It is a great opportunity to say thank you to the dedicated and hardworking staff across the Trust for all the incredible work they do.”
The three month Thank You George’s season, which started last month, includes a range of other events including art, music and reflection to share experiences from responding to the pandemic with one another.
The ‘lunch on us’ food festival for Trust staff launched yesterday (Sunday 14 November) and will continue until Thursday. Staff can choose from a variety of sweet and savoury options including wraps, noodles, popcorn and churros.
The festival is ticketed and is just for staff working at the Trust.
Dr Richard Jennings, Chief Medical Officer at St George’s, said: “Events like these are imperative to say thank you to our hard-working teams, but there are things that the public can do to support them too.
He added: “Looking after yourselves this winter by getting your covid-19 and flu vaccines is the best form of protection against both viruses. If you need medical care but it isn’t an emergency, please call or access NHS 111 online before attending our emergency department as often there are more appropriate NHS services available to you which can be quicker, such as your GP or local pharmacy.”
