John Lewis creates wellbeing area for NHS Nightingale staff

The retailer said it would be designing and installing a wellbeing area for medical staff and volunteers at the hospital and the space would be the only area in the facility “specifically designed for all staff to have a place of sanctuary when they need help or time out to relax from their extremely challenging environment”.

John Lewis has also teamed up with the British Medical Association (BMA) to deliver care packages to frontline NHS workers.

From today, the retailer will start making 400 deliveries of “essential items” to help NHS staff “feel refreshed and energised during long shifts” with NHS Nightingale and the main London trusts to receive the first packages.

The care packages will be made of non-clinical essentials such as deodorant, shaving foam and lip balm, as well as snacks, tea, coffee and socks.

John Lewis has also been accommodating on-call NHS key workers at its Leckford Estate in Hampshire.

Deputy chief executive of NHS Nightingale Mathew Trainer said: “We are so grateful to the John Lewis Partnership for their continued commitment to taking care of NHS staff.

“The care packages, designed in collaboration with the BMA, will be a welcome gesture of support for busy staff on the go, and the wellbeing space will allow our staff much-needed time out during their shifts.

“This is a fantastic example of people and companies coming together to help NHS staff as they respond to the greatest public health challenge in over a century – but every member of the public can play their part too, in particular by staying home to slow the spread of the virus and save lives.”

John Lewis chair Dame Sharon White said: “The John Lewis Partnership salutes the courage and humanity of every NHS worker fighting this awful virus. We are exceptionally lucky to have an amazing health service open to all. As a small token, we’re donating food and other essential items to the NHS; we’re making it easier for NHS workers to shop in Waitrose and we’re helping staff at the new Nightingale hospital in London. We will do more over the coming weeks.”