Nursing staff, cleaners and porters at Western Sussex Hospitals Trust’s hospitals have received a treat and a touching ‘thank you’ message from local businesses.
The chocolate bar ‘thank you’ was the idea of memorial mason Anton Matthews, proprietor of Bognor Regis Memorial Stone Centre and the StoneSafe memorial fixing system. He elicited the support of other local businesses, including another memorial mason, Alver-Stones Monumental Stonemasons and even the local branch of Lloyds Bank. Most gave £250 towards the chocolate gifts, says Anton.
Anton and his grandchildren tied ribbons round each of the 2,000 packages then handed them out to staff outside St Richard’s Hospital, in Chichester, on 4 July.
Anton said after handing the colourful envelopes to nurses, porters and cleaners outside the hospital: “It’s so lovely to see staff enjoy them. It’s brought tears to my eyes!”
Inside the packages a message paid tribute to the work of NHS teams during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It said: “A massive thank you to all the dedicated, caring and compassionate staff at the NHS for all the hard work you are doing during these unprecedented times.
“All the early mornings and late nights where you’re working tirelessly to look after everybody throughout the coronavirus pandemic and all your hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. We are truly thankful to have you. You are amazing!”
The chocolate treats were shared between the Trust’s three hospitals in Chichester, Worthing and Southlands.
On 7 July, Anton was accompanied by the Chair of Arun District Council as they presented more their their thank you gifts to staff at Bognor War Memorial Hospital on Anton’s home ground of Bognor Regis.
The Chief nurse at Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Maggie Davies, said: “We have been blown away by all the wonderful gifts and messages of support we have received recently.
“We are all very grateful to Anton and his sponsors for thinking of us in the NHS and helping to lift spirits with a wonderful package of thanks, chocolate and support. Thank you!”