Food banks have been launched for NHS Lothian staff after it was found workers are struggling to get by.
Members of the Unison union have launched initiatives at various NHS sites around Edinburgh, supporting staff who are experiencing economic hardship. Fellow staff are running the services with the help of Edinburgh Food Project and the East Lothian Food bank.
Unison Lothian Health Branch said they have been made aware that some staff need help to buy food for their children and are unable to afford the bus fare into work. Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is among the sites operating the scheme.
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Jane Ferguson, Director of NHS Lothian Charity, said: “As the official charity of NHS Lothian, we are committed to supporting NHS Lothian staff who are experiencing economic hardship as a result of the cost of living crisis in whichever way we are able to.
"The Food Pantry idea was initiated by staff for staff, and Unison has been helping to coordinate this, working with us, Edinburgh Food Project and East Lothian Food Project to make this happen. As well as supporting Unison with the Food Pantries, we have been working on a range of initiatives with NHS Lothian and other partners since the start of the pandemic to help support the mental, physical and financial wellbeing of staff.
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"This includes the strategic roll-out of a welfare advice service, offering confidential access to advice on issues such as benefits, debt management, housing and employment rights. Unison Lothian Health Branch had been made aware that some staff were struggling to buy food for their children or didn’t have enough for their bus fare to come into work and, together, we wanted to do something to help.
“With funding from the charity for food parcels, Unison has co-ordinated setting up food pantries at various sites across West Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian for staff in need of additional support.”
Ellie Orton OBE, chief executive of NHS Charities Together, has previously spoken on the issue of staff using food banks. She said: “As the cost of living escalates, like many employers NHS Trusts and the charities who support them are looking at ways to help staff through the crisis.
“But with pressures facing NHS workers already so extreme, it’s heartbreaking that some are having to resort to using food banks to get by. As a sector we are proud to support the staff and patients of the NHS however we can, and sadly today that support is more important than ever.”
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