HOSPITAL bosses are looking to provide care packages for the doctors and nurses on the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis.

The Mid & South Essex Hospitals Charity has launched the #MSEhelpyourhospital rapid response appeal to raise cash for the packages and is asking patients to show their appreciation by making a donation.

The cash will go towards providing snacks and toiletries to NHS staff working at Broomfield Hospital, which serves Chelmsford, Braintree and Maldon.

It will also support doctors and nurses at hospitals in Basildon and Southend.

The appeal has been set up after the hospitals received hundreds of offers of support from the public.

Mid & South Essex Hospitals Charity’s director, Lucy Thomas-Clayton, said: “During this challenging time, NHS staff at Basildon, Broomfield and Southend hospitals are working around the clock to look after your loved ones.

"We have been inundated with emails and calls offering support, the best way for you to help is by donating to www.justgiving.com/campaign/msehelpyourhospital.

"As a team working alongside our colleagues in the hospital, we can make sure items of greatest need are purchased. Please do not go out to collect food or essential items for our staff, the best thing you can do as a community is #stayathome.

"Thank you to all the local organisations and individuals that are already supporting our appeal, from back garden marathon runners to supermarket collection boxes at tills. Every effort is greatly appreciated."

As well as care packages, the cash will also be used to provide wellbeing resources to staff to help alleviate stress.

It will also help to ensure all rest areas for doctors and nurses are fully equipped and alternative transport, such as taxis, are available to them free of charge should public transport be forced to stop due to the pandemic.

Some care packages will also be given to patients at the hospitals.

More than £2,000 has been raised via a justgiving page set up by the charity.

To find out more information, email fundraising@meht.nhs.uk.

To make a donation, visit justgiving.com/campaign/msehelpyourhospital.

Braintree and Witham Times:

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Please donate whatever you can and let us give a collective, united message to our NHS workers – the paramedics, the GPs, the doctors, nurses and all the support staff – of our huge appreciation for their efforts.

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