University Hospital of North Tees has launched a pop-up shop to provide NHS staff with essential groceries during the Covid-19 crisis.

While panic buyers continue to stockpile essential goods, many NHS staff have struggled to find time to buy groceries during the Covid-10 pandemic. To address this, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has established a pop-up shop to help staff secure fresh food at cost price.

The shop has been organised by the catering team at NTH Solutions LLP, an NHS-owned subsidiary company providing estates, facilities and support services to the Trust.

After its launch this week, the shop has proven a great success. Trust staff now have a convenient and safe way to purchase fresh bread, milk, eggs, fruit and vegetables at the end of their shifts.

The initiative, introduced by Catering Production and Patient Service Manager, Paul Pattinson, and Health and Wellbeing Lead, Jill Mcgee, aims to promote the health and wellbeing of the hardworking staff at the Trust and NTH Solutions.

Catering staff are re-stocking the pop-up shop regularly throughout the week, with any leftover produce being incorporated into recipes to feed staff, visitors and patients at the hospital.

Mike Worden, Managing Director at NTH Solutions, said: “The hard work and commitment of NHS staff is essential to the health and care of the local community, now more than ever, with the health and wellbeing of patients, visitors and staff being our top priority.

This service is absolutely invaluable for our staff, it really is a great feeling to be able to give something back to each and every one of our workforce

Jill McGee, Health and Wellbeing Lead for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

“The pop-up shop is already proving a great success and is just one of many brilliant examples of how NHS colleagues are pulling together to help each other out at this difficult time.”

Paul Pattinson said: “We are delighted to see colleagues across all departments making use of the pop-up shop, providing them easy access to healthy and nutritious food items to take home after shifts.”

Jill McGee, Health and Wellbeing Lead for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust said: “This service is absolutely invaluable for our staff – it really is a great feeling to be able to give something back to each and every one of our workforce.

Working around the clock means that some staff members finish during unsociable hours, and can’t always make it to the supermarket. This gives them all an equal opportunity to be able to stock their own cupboard and put food on the table for their families.”