Struggling West Lothian healthcare workers are turning to food banks to get them through the cost of living crisis.
Food pantries have been set up in the county and other areas of the Lothians by local Unison union branch members with support from NHS Lothian Charity and Edinburgh and East Lothian Food Projects.
Director of the NHS Lothian charity, Jane Ferguson, explained: “As an NHS charity, we are committed to working together with partners to support our local NHS staff who are experiencing economic hardship as a result of this crisis in whichever way we are able to.
“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.”
It comes as new stats show more than half of NHS Trusts and health boards could be providing or planning to provide food banks for their staff, according to new research from NHS Charities Together.
In a 24-hour survey of NHS charities, who support every Trust and Health Board in the UK, 21 per cent said they already had an active food bank for their staff or are implementing one.
Ellie Orton OBE, chief executive of NHS Charities Together, 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.
“Right now hardship funds and support are the main topic of interest for NHS charities. Queries from our members range from the setting up of benevolent funds and access to travel bursaries, to the possibility of providing hot meal vouchers and other basic support, including food banks.
“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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