A team of NHS nurses has been gifted a treat for their feet to make a difference to their busy working week.
Friends of ANCHOR hand delivered a pair of Skechers trainers to each nurse working in the acute cancer care ward at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, following an inspired idea by the ward’s Senior Charge Nurse Sharon Smith, who has been able to kit out her whole team with the help of the charity.
Commenting on the team trainer delivery, Sharon Smith said: “The nurses spend a great deal of time on their feet every day, averaging some 14,000 steps each shift, so having comfortable, supportive shoes makes all the difference. One member of the team said she felt like she was ‘walking on air’ after making the switch to her new Skechers.
“I’m very grateful to Friends of ANCHOR’s donors for making this gift possible. It really does bring a boost to the staff knowing patients and their loved ones want to donate specifically towards the staff wellbeing and team morale. On behalf of the nurses here, thank you.”
Vicki Youngson, Head of Wellbeing at Friends of ANCHOR said: “Each ward within the ANCHOR Unit has its own Friends of ANCHOR fund that is spent at the discretion of the senior charge nurse of that department. The donations tend to come from donors who have witnessed first-hand the incredible level of care throughout the Unit. The dedicated staff fund allows them the opportunity to direct their generosity to those who have cared so well for them.
“When the senior charge nurse for Ward 114, Sharon Smith, came to us with the idea of gifting her staff comfy trainers, it was great to be able to turn this request around quickly, getting the correct size to each staff member - each of whom really appreciated the gift.”
Recognising the act of kindness, Skechers’ head office offered a 25% discount on the order.
Mrs Youngson continued: “It’s thanks to our founding sponsor Balmoral Group that we are able to assure donors that every penny of their giving will go direct to the Unit, with the running costs of the charity fully covered by the firm.”
The staff funds were established by Friends of ANCHOR in 2013, with donations going towards festive food for staff on the wards over Christmas and New Year, treats on International Nurses Day, team building events and practical gifts such as refillable water bottles.