The NHS is at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 and dedicated colleagues at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Birmingham Women’s Hospital – from domestics to doctors, nurses to porters – are doing all they can to care for those most at risk, including the elderly, pregnant women, children, young mental health patients and those with underlying health issues. However, the true impact of this additional and excessive strain on the wider NHS service is starting to take hold.

Capacity at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, including the number of intensive care beds, has been significantly increased to take on more of the region’s sickest children, in order to relieve pressure on other NHS Trusts dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. Birmingham Women’s Hospital, which has the busiest, single-site maternity unit in the country, is continuing to provide its expert care, whilst navigating the new threat of COVID-19 to its patients and staff.

Funds raised from Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospitals Charity’s emergency COVID-19 Appeal will be directed towards supporting its NHS heroes on the frontline and the women, children and families in the hospitals’ care. It will enable funding of emergency overnight accommodation for worried parents, so that they can stay close to their children, provide much-needed food, drinks and care packages for frontline staff to sustain them during this crisis, and enable a rapid response to the unpredictable and unprecedented demands over the coming months.

Louise McCathie, Director of Fundraising at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospitals Charity, said: “We are in awe of our amazing staff members, who are currently going beyond the call of duty to care for and protect some of the most vulnerable members of society.

“Our charity will stand side-by-side with our NHS colleagues to ensure that they have what they need in the difficult weeks and months ahead, to continue the vital work they undertake. Therefore we really do need your support now, more than ever before, so that we can continue to support those who need us at this critical time, and those who will need us in the future.”