AN Appleton man has donated £51,000 to Warrington Hospital.

Khulwant Dhalwani has walked that proverbial 500miles to raise money for NHS Charities Together and The Care Workers Charity.

He was joined by trustees of the Sikh Guru Nanak Gurdwara temple Warrington for the handover of the money on Saturday.

Warrington South MP Andy Carter was on hand to recognise the contribution with Chief Executive of the Trust, Professor Simon Constable, who accepted the donation on behalf of both charities.

Professor Constable said he was honoured to receive the donation and recognised the selfless contribution of both Mr Dhalwani and members of the Guru Nanak Gurdwara who had provided more than 15,000 delicious meals over 14 weekends for hospital staff during the pandemic.

Funds have already been transferred directly to both charities where they are being put to good use.

The hospital’s own charity, Warrington and Halton Hospitals Charity, has already received £66,500 from NHS Charities Together which is the fund-holder for the £130m raised by Captain Sir Tom Moore and supporters and is applying for further funding through NHS CT’s grants programme.

In the past three months, the charity has been able to support a number of Covid-19 recovery projects for both patients and staff as the Trust emerges from the pandemic.

Mr Dhalwani is still fundraising with his next donation going to the Oxford laboratories working to find a Covid-19 vaccine.

To make a donation or support the work of the hospital, the comfort of its patients and the health and wellbeing of its staff, visit whhcharity.org.uk/coronavirus/

How will the NHS Charities Together £66,500 been spent in Warrington? 

Plans include:

  • An emotional wellbeing ‘ Sanctuary Hub’, at the mindfulness courtyard Appleton Wing which will enable a sustainable package of support for staff
  • New furniture/plants for an outdoor courtyard at Halton to enable staff to enjoy fresh air and time outside the workplace
  • Additional Mental Health First Aid Facilitators with the aim to have a positive impact on our staff in terms of improving morale, and reducing work-related stress, anxiety associated with the workplace or personal loss.

Support patients and their loved ones through:

  • Support meetings for ICU survivors and bereaved families of Covid-19 for the next year
  • A counselling room for young people in crisis on the Children’s ward
  • Ipads to support virtual visiting
  • Recliner chairs for patients visitors, in particular end of life relatives, to provide them with comfort at the bedside