Ørsted UK
COVID-19 update

Bay Hospitals Charity works to improve the hospital and community care experience for patients and their families across North Lancashire and South Cumbria, raising funds for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.

Commenting on the support, David Wilkinson, Director of People and Organisational Development at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay said: “This is a fantastic donation and we are very grateful to Ørsted. We will be working with colleagues to best identify how to utilise this very generous donation to support them in continuing to do such incredible work, day in day out, to keep us all well.”

A total of £20,000 will be donated to the Support our Staff Appeal at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This provides equipment and resources for staff at Liverpool’s Aintree, Broadgreen, Dental and Royal hospitals. Ørsted’s donation will contribute towards relaxation rooms for staff working on the frontline against coronavirus. The rooms, which are designed to provide respite for staff will include reclining chairs, mini fridges with healthy snacks, relaxing music and comfort packs. 

Commenting on the donation, Dianne Brown, Chief Nurse at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I’d like to thank Ørsted for this very generous donation. It means so much to our staff, who are working in very challenging circumstances at the moment. The funds raised by the Support Our Staff appeal have enabled us to create spaces where our staff can take a moment for themselves and have a properly relaxing break.”

Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity helps purchase state-of-the-art equipment, comforts and all the added extras which the NHS can’t provide for the Trust. The money from Ørsted’s donation will be used to support the creations of wellness rooms for hospital staff to take a mental, as well as physical break.

Commenting on the donation, James Sumner, Chief Executive of Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "It's no secret that we are currently going through a challenging time. Our charity team is currently focusing on supporting the physical, emotional and mental wellbeing of our staff and this donation will make a huge difference to this work and to our workforce. On behalf of the Trust, we'd like to thank everyone at Orsted for this kind donation to our charity."

Our West Coast sites have chosen to donate £10,000 to assist the vital work of Wirral Foodbank and Barrow Foodbank, supporting vulnerable people in the region.

Commenting on the donation, Richard Roberts, General Manager at Wirral Foodbank, said: “Wirral Foodbank would like to thank Ørsted for its most generous donation of £5,000. We are facing unprecedented challenges; demand for our service was already high before Covid-19, we expect this to increase during the lockdown and beyond. This donation will enable us to meet the challenges with confidence.”

The Health Tree Foundation works in partnership with the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust to support workers at three hospitals across North and North East Lincolnshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire. The Foundation aims to improve the hospitals themselves, support treatment research, specialist medical training, and install state-of-the-art equipment and community services across the region.

Commenting on the donation, Clare Woodard, Charity Manager at The Health Tree Foundation, said: “The Health Tree Foundation has been overwhelmed with the offers of help and support we have received lately.  This most generous gift from our local friends at Ørsted will be put to immediate and practical use, across our three hospital sites and community services, to support staff and patients through the most unprecedentedly challenging time.”

WISHH is an independent charity which supports the enhancement of facilities, services and equipment at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital, for the benefit of patients and visitors alike.

Commenting on the donation, Sue Lockwood, Chairman of Hull Hospitals official charity WISHH, said: “This generous support will enable us to enhance provision of facilities for staff at both Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital, to support the overall wellbeing of staff both now and in the future. Staff across both hospitals have faced major changes as wards have being reconfigured to provide increased intensive care provision, and specific wards designated to care for patients suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19.  All hospital staff from across the Trust have stepped up to the challenge, dealing with many things outside of their normal routine dealing with new situations and in some cases providing end of life care.  It is important we support their wellbeing too.  This kind and extremely generous donation from Ørsted will enable us to achieve this by enhancing our wellbeing provision.”

Donations received since the COVID-19 appeal launch have enabled WISHH to work with A&E staff to redesign and refurbish their tired staffroom, transforming it into a tranquil environment for staff to take a well-earned break and recharge.

Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity supports the work of the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust and its staff. The charity recently launched an appeal to specifically aid the welfare and wellbeing of staff during the Coronavirus crisis.

Commenting on the pandemic, Nick Hulme, Chief Executive of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity shown towards the NHS during the COVID-19 outbreak. This donation from Ørsted will make a huge difference to the way we can support our hardworking NHS staff, both during and after the pandemic.”

Ørsted’s East Coast sites have also chosen to donate £5,000 to assist the vital work of local foodbanks run by Rock Foundation, Hull Foodbank and £1,000 to support the Colchester Foodbank at Brightlingsea.

Commenting on the donation, Pam Hodge, CEO at Rock Foundation, said: “At this time of unprecedented national crisis, the need to pull together as a community to help each other through has never been greater. We are so grateful that Ørsted pulling together with us in this way, as we seek to serve some of the neediest people in our community.”