Special thanks to children and families supporting NHS staff through Covid-19

Children with their letters from NCA Chief Executive Raj Jain

The children of staff members at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group (NCA), which runs local hospitals and community healthcare, have been thanked for their important contribution to the organisation as it faces the Covid-19 pandemic.

Around 20,000 staff across the NCA, which includes Rochdale Infirmary, Royal Oldham Hospital, Fairfield General Hospital and Salford Royal are working together to respond to unprecedented demands on the organisation as it cares for a rising number of patients with the virus.

Chief Executive Raj Jain has written a letter to the children of staff members to thank them for the support they are giving to their parents and loved ones, many of whom are busy directly delivering patient care or working in support roles to help others to do this. Staff members are being encouraged to use Raj’s letter template to share with their children and teenagers.

Raj said: “Our staff members are giving their all right now. So many of our teams are working long, physically and emotionally challenging shifts or longer working days and weeks to ensure we can face the biggest challenge that has ever been presented to the NHS. I am in awe of their dedication, commitment and bravery at this time.

“Of course our staff members are not just part of the NCA family, they have their own families and we don’t underestimate the tremendous impact this is having on home lives at the moment.

“We are incredibly grateful to all the families of our staff members because we know they wouldn’t be able to come in and show this level of commitment and dedication without the support, love, patience and understanding of their loved ones at home.

“We wanted in particular to thank their children. Some of our staff members’ kids are not in school at the moment and are adjusting to a life of social distancing. However for many other children whose mums, dads or carers are NHS staff they may still be in their school or a different school. No matter the circumstances, it’s a very unusual time for our younger generation.

“To show our appreciation we have sent a letter of thanks to these children and young people because we wanted to make clear to them that they are very much part of the NCA team.”