This morning Thursday 10th June 2021, The Hall family and directors of James Hall and Company Ltd, unveiled the new state of the art sleeping facilities for Staff working at Royal Preston Hospital.
The sleep pods will give frontline clinical staff at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust a peaceful and relaxing space to go to catch up on sleep before either returning to work or driving home safely.
These futuristic pods have been made possible thanks to a £250,000 donation last year, from the Lancashire-based family business.
James Hall & Company Limited, who operate as the primary wholesaler to SPAR retailers throughout the North of England, know only too well the importance of looking after workforce, particularly when faced with such unprecedented times.
Andrew Hall, Managing Director of James Hall Company Ltd said:
“When the Covid pandemic hit last year, we saw the extraordinary lengths that NHS staff went to, to keep us and their own families safe. We wanted to help, so are delighted to see these rest and recreation facilities brought to life.
It’s our way of saying thank you as a family and a company to the many dedicated frontline staff here.
These pods are incredible, and I could not resist trying one out!”
At the ceremony, limited in size due to ongoing Covid 19 restrictions, the Hall family also unveiled a small plaque to commemorate the dedication and devotion that staff have shown in caring for patients and colleagues alike during unprecedented times.
Paula Wilson, Head of Charities said:
“Here at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, we have seen the impact that Covid-19 has had on our colleagues, this act of kindness really shows just how much the NHS has been appreciated and how highly our staff are regarded.
Karen Swindley, Strategy, Workforce and Education Director said:
“We are extremely grateful to James Hall & Co Ltd for enabling us to make such wonderful improvements to benefit our colleagues, who since the start of the pandemic, have gone above and beyond to provide the best possible patient care. These state of the art sleep pod facilities will make a huge difference to staff both mentally and physically”
In addition to the generous donation from the Hall family, supporters of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity also donated a further £50,000 and the charity received a grant of £30,000 from NHS Charities Together, helping to make this project possible.
As well as sleep pods, the project includes a small kitchen, new changing and shower areas and a dedicated breastfeeding room for nursing staff.
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity is continuing it’s fundraising to support other staff wellbeing improvements to break rooms, quiet spaces, and memorial gardens, allowing where staff and visitors a place to go to remember those lost to Covid-19.
".. this act of kindness really shows just how much the NHS has been appreciated and how highly our staff are regarded"
