STAFF across the Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust, which included Basildon and Thurrock Hospitals, have been overwhelmed by donations from local communities and businesses in response to COVID-19.

Donations include food, drink, money and personal protective equipment.

Many of the donations are being coordinated by the official Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity, which was established on 1 April when the three hospitals merged to become a new NHS organisation. Previously the sites had separate charities.

Lucy Clayton-Thomas, the charity's director, said: "Every single donation boosts staff morale – no matter how big or small it is."

It has been an extraordinary start for the charity but Lucy says that her colleagues have been inspired by both the commitment of hospital staff and the generosity and imagination of the community.

She says: "It's not just physical donations that have been received. More than one hundred new volunteers have come forward to support the hospitals help staff on the frontline.

"With so many donations coming in and no sign of the community's enthusiasm waning, we are rising to the challenge of making sure the donations give the greatest possible benefit to staff and patients. It is not always possible to acknowledge every donation but we do appreciate each and every one."

Cash donations have been used to fund projects such as:

· Care packs with snacks and toiletries for staff on the frontline working intensively to care for patients

· Wellbeing resources

· Establishing staff rest areas so staff can take a break and relax

· Alternative transport to and from work – such as a taxi or a minibus

· Purchasing I-pads and tablets to add to those donated by individuals and companies for use by patients to communicate with their loved ones.

Lucy added: "We didn't expect our strength as a new organisation to be tested so quickly. We have clearly seen how much stronger we are together during this difficult time."

The new charity exists to fund equipment and to support services and staff while improving patient care at Trust hospitals throughout the year.

This will be achieved through the regular fundraising events that communities have become used to as well as new larger regional events to unite our hospitals and local communities across Mid and South Essex. People can give money via this link.

To donate Personal Protection Equipment or alert the Trust to possible sources of PPE email [email protected].

Read about one of the many local heroes who are supporting our NHS by clicking here.