A CENTRAL hub has opened at Warrington Hospital to support the community in donating food, toiletries and other comforts to patients and staff during the covid-19 pandemic.

Located in a portacabin at Kendrick wing, but external to the main hospital, the Community Hub is open between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday for drop offs of a wide range of items.

Having suspended visiting across almost all wards in response to national guidance, the hospital is appealing for items to support patients through the long days without visitors.

It is also providing a basic ‘starter-pack’ for patients being discharged home and overnight packs to staff that are forced to stay away from home due to family members self-isolating.

From today, Tuesday residents will be able to contact the WHH Charity hotline to arrange a morning or evening collection by hospital teams.

To observe social distancing guidance the teams will collect from doorsteps/gardens by arrangement with the householder.

Items in biggest demand are:

  • Non-perishable foods including tea, coffee, dried milk, sugar, biscuits, long-life milk, tins of soups, beans etc.
  • Toiletries including shower gels, shampoos, hand and body creams, toothpaste and antiperspirants.
  • In addition, patients on the wards are finding that the days very long without visitors and would be grateful for ‘boredom busters’ such as games, magazines, jigsaws, puzzle books, writing paper, pens and envelopes, adult colouring books and coloured pencils.

To arrange to drop off donated goods or arrange a collection call 662666 or email WHH.Charity@nhs.net.