Heart badges thanking Solent NHS staff give key workers an opportunity to nominate others
A NEW way to thank NHS staff and key workers is helping to recognise people’s efforts during the pandemic.
Individuals across the county who have been recognised for their unwavering commitment throughout Covid-19, are being awarded with heart badges as a token of thanks and recognition.
As a memento of these challenging times, Solent NHS Trust is offering the badges to its colleagues so that they can wear it with pride, but also to give them the opportunity to nominate people in their community for supporting them.
This could be their child’s teacher, the postman, the person who works in their local shop or for someone who has given up their time to work voluntarily.
Barry Jenkins, security officer at St Mary’s Hospital in Portsmouth, has nominated his daughter Ayla’s nursery for the badges.
He said: ‘My wife and I are both key workers and without the support and kindness of the staff at Dolls House Nursery in Drayton, we wouldn’t have been able to make the additional commitment that was needed during this time.
‘Their flexibility enabled NHS colleagues like me to step up to the challenges presented by Covid-19.’
The badges have been designed with a rainbow pride of place - a symbol that has become synonymous with the Covid-19 pandemic after thousands of children created pictures of rainbows to place in their window.
Sue Harriman, chief executive of Solent NHS Trust, said: ‘There are so many stories of people going above and beyond in these incredibly difficult and unprecedented times, while balancing work and personal commitments. There are also many people who have supported those working in the NHS and who continue to help the NHS during Covid-19.
‘We wanted to offer these badges to our colleagues to say a huge thank you and to recognise the important contributions they have made during this period.
‘We’ve also asked people within the trust to nominate those individuals in the community deserving of a badge who have really made the difference to them as a small token of our enormous thanks.’
More than 600 colleagues have already requested the badge since it was launched last week, with colleagues nominating their local household waste collectors, farmers and headteacher.