RD&E Charity

Staff at the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E) have new dedicated staff lounges, funded in part by generous donations from the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the first lockdown in 2020, the RD&E Charity launched the #HelpUsHelpYou Appeal, which was designed to raise money to directly support the wellbeing of staff at the RD&E. Donations to this appeal, along with funding from NHS Charities Together and matched with money from the Trust, was used to create new lounges away from clinical areas where staff can take their breaks.

The Sea View lounge and the Garden View lounge are both open for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and give staff another area to visit and relax during their well-earned breaks.

Ian Roome, Head of Fundraising at the RD&E Charity, said: “We’re really excited to see these new lounges open and are so incredibly grateful to NHS Charities Together, the Trust and everyone who donated towards our #HelpUsHelpYou Appeal.”

Dave Thomas, Interim Chief Nurse at the RD&E, said: “It’s so important to have spaces for staff around the Trust that are away from clinical areas and allow staff space to take their breaks, relax and refuel. Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and with social distancing, these spaces are more important now than ever before and we’re extremely grateful to NHS Charities Together, the Trust and everyone who donated to the #HelpUsHelpYou appeal.”

Chris Tidman, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you on behalf of the RD&E to everyone who donated and made this possible.”

Nine men from Devon have cycled from John O’Groats to Lands End over nine days, raising over £36,000 for four charities, including the RD&E Charity.

The money raised will be split evenly between the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust’s stoma nurses (RD&E Charity), Cancer Research UK, Children's Hospice South West and Beat. Spencer Lane, one of the cyclists, wanted to support the RD&E’s stoma nurses to thank them for the care he received after his stoma surgery in December 2020.

Spencer was joined on the trip by Andrew Thomson, Brendan Spokes, Sam Meadham, Sam Richardson, Mike Darch, Adam Rutter, Jevon Astley-Jones, and Rory Honeychurch to form the team known as the 'Jogle9ers'.

Spencer said: “The idea for the cycle came after my emergency surgery in December. I really wanted to thank the stoma nurses and the surgeons who helped me and also raise some awareness around a hidden illness like Ulcerative colitis. The ride was amazing and all of the boys did themselves proud completing the 930 miles in 9 days. Thank you to everyone for all the support.”

Ian Roome, Head of Charity Fundraising at the RD&E Charity, said: “We’d like to express our thanks to Spencer and the rest of the Jogle9ers team for taking on this incredible challenge and for raising money for the RD&E Charity. The money raised will really benefit staff and patients within the RD&E’s stoma unit.”