Doctor and his wife creating pick-me-up packages for front line NHS staff coping with coronavirus pandemic

A hospital doctor and his wife are creating essential pick-me-up packages for front line NHS staff coping with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic – as well as grateful messages from residents.

Dr Vishal Patel, of King’s College Hospital in Camberwell, and wife Seena created the boosting boxes, containing hand cream, lip balm, energy snacks, rehydration tablets, wellbeing advice and hand-written messages of support from the local community, after discussing how best to care for his traumatised colleagues.

They have become so popular that an army of volunteers is now assembling for another 18 hospitals.

The couple, from Bromley, began making up care packages – which they named ‘NHS Wellness Box’ – after Vishal experienced first-hand the unprecedented challenges being faced by medics.

Liver doctor Vishal moved to treating patients with Covid-19 in March. He has been working on these wards over the past six weeks but also on clinical trials investigating treatments for Covid-19.

At home, he described to Seena how staff were doing their best for the sickest patients in the hospital, in stressful circumstances and often with little thought for their own welfare – especially in intensive care, where bed numbers have surged for patients on ventilators.

Many must wear full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and have difficulty accessing essential items in supermarkets in between working long shifts.

So Seena and Vishal came up with their NHS Wellness Boxes.

The boxes are compact enough to be given to staff directly on the wards and are designed to provide immediate relief following a long shift.

Seena set up an open Facebook group (#nhswellnessbox) to raise awareness among friends, family and the community.

A Just Giving page has been set up to raise money for key items to fill the boxes.

Each is distributed to staff at KCH and the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH), close to their home.

They have had items donated by residents and bulk contributions from companies including Clarke’s Fusions, Day Lewis Pharmacy, Dermalex and Jealous Life Sweets.

Vishal, who has worked at KCH for more than 10 years, said: “I have witnessed first-hand the herculean effort of NHS staff at King’s over the past six weeks, and I could not be more proud of their dedication and selflessness.

“Staff are doing everything they can to care for and support patients with Covid-19, and this is being replicated up and down the UK.

“Many patients are making a recovery but, sadly, some do not and it is very difficult on an emotional as well as physical level for all concerned.

“Hopefully, the NHS Wellness Box demonstrates to colleagues that their communities wholeheartedly support and hugely appreciate their dedication and tireless commitment.

“Our goal is to make 2,500 boxes for the King’s College Hospital and the PRUH and to share them with the unsung heroes such as radiographers and porters, as well as frontline nurses and doctors.”

The total money raised, which currently stands at over £6,000, has paid for other items to be added to the boxes.

The King’s College Hospital Charity has pledged another £4,000 to for boxes for both KCH Trust and the PRUH.

Money can be donated here.