John Lewis Partnership announces additional support for NHS workers on the frontline

Monday 1 February 2021

In partnership with the British Medical Association (BMA), the John Lewis Partnership is providing frontline NHS workers with care packages to keep them refuelled and refreshed as they continue facing extreme pressure caring for patients in UK hospitals. 

The care boxes are starting to be delivered as hospital admissions for Coronavirus patients continue to remain high in every region, according to official figures.

Nearly 500 boxes have been sent to acute hospital trusts in the UK to safely distribute to high intensity clinical areas such as Critical Care and Intensive Care units. This will ensure healthcare staff working long hours, and under terrible strain, receive the essentials they need. 

Based on advice from the BMA, these supplies will be a combination of much-needed non-clinical essentials, including; toiletries, such as deodorant, socks, shaving foam, hand cream and lip balm; as well as snack food, tea and coffee. The boxes also contain a wellbeing leaflet with information about a 24/7 counselling service and guidance from the BMA on a range of issues.

In total, the John Lewis Partnership will have delivered almost 2,000 boxes of essentials to over 500 Hospital Trust locations during the pandemic. This has included care packages for Mental Health Trusts.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, British Medical Association Chair of Council, says: “When so many healthcare staff have put in hour after hour over such a prolonged period and are continuing to do so -  looking after so many very sick patients, a deed such as this, to show how much they are appreciated, will certainly bring a little light relief.

 “We’re delighted to work with the John Lewis Partnership to provide these care boxes to so many frontline staff over the coming days. Whilst we know that many staff are facing huge challenges, we hope these boxes will bring a few smiles and some comfort to as many staff as possible during these incredibly difficult times.”

Marija Rompani, Partner & Director, Sustainability & Ethics, John Lewis Partnership, says: “We are extremely grateful for the courage and humanity of everyone in the NHS working tirelessly to fight this virus  - from intensive care to mental health. We are exceptionally lucky to have an amazing health service open to all and this is a small token to show our thanks again for their relentless hard work.”

The John Lewis Partnership has supported the NHS in a number of ways during the crisis, including giving NHS staff  priority in Waitrose. John Lewis and Waitrose gifted thousands of essential food items, hot meals and items such as pillows and phone chargers to local hospitals as well as supporting a number of NHS Nightingale Hospitals and acute hospitals with wellbeing and multi-faith areas or with electrical products for staff areas. John Lewis reopened its textiles factory  ‘Herbert Parkinson’ in Lancashire, to make protective gowns for the NHS.

John Lewis and Waitrose will also continue to support the vulnerable during the pandemic and beyond. The 2020 ‘Give A Little Love’ campaign raised over £3m for charities Home-Start and FareShare, aiming to support 100,000 families in need. Last week, the Partnership pledged to extend its support, pooling the expertise and passion of Partners, resources, networks and time to meet the specific needs of the most vulnerable in society, backed with a further donation of £2m.

About the John Lewis Partnership

The John Lewis Partnership owns and operates two of Britain's best-loved retail brands - John Lewis and Waitrose. Started as a radical idea nearly a century ago, the Partnership is the largest employee-owned business in the UK and amongst the largest in the world, with over 78,000 employees who are all Partners in the business. For all intents and purposes, the Partnership is a social enterprise; the profits made are reinvested into the business - for customers and Partners. John Lewis operates 42 shops plus one outlet across the UK as well as johnlewis.com. Waitrose has 331 shops in England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, including  59 convenience branches, and another 27 shops at Welcome Break locations. The retailer's omnichannel business includes the online grocery service, Waitrose.com, as well as specialist online shops including waitrosecellar.com for wine and waitroseflorist.com for plants and flowers.