Staff and volunteers at the Friends of St Mary's are celebrating being 'back in business' after coronavirus caused their new shop to close.
The charity's new shop in the foyer opened just before the lockdown was implemented which then meant the cafes in Outpatients, the Laidlaw Clinic, Ryde Wellbeing Clinic and the popular ward trolley service were forced to stop operating.
For over 30 years all the profits made by the team of staff and volunteers go to supporting our NHS on the Isle of Wight.
Lesley Myland, Chairman of the Charity, said:
“We have not been able to resume the cafe and trolley services for now, but we are optimistic about doing so when the time is right.
“For the time being we are relying on hospital staff and visitors to ‘spend! spend! spend’ in our foyer shop. Profits from our activities have been supporting the Island’s NHS for 32 years and we want to carry on doing that, especially now when the NHS has become so important. We have a great range of gifts, drinks, stationery, snacks and greetings cards."
Islanders can still support patients and staff at St Mary's Hospital via collection boxes if they are not able to come into the site in Newport.
Lisa Brodie, the shop manager, said inevitably takings were significantly hit by the lock-down, which means less money becoming available to purchase extra equipment for the Island’s NHS.
She said:
“We are pleased to find that some of the 60 or so volunteers have returned to help staff the shop, and we hope in time more will return.”
The shop is located past reception in the main foyer and is open from 9am until 3pm Monday to Friday.