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An emergency fund to support our staff through the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis has been launched by the Royal Free Charity.

Many Royal Free London (RFL) staff are now caring for patients with coronavirus. Others are looking after patients who are not unwell with the virus but still desperately need our help.

With resources stretched to the limit, staff are working under the most extreme pressure, and in the most challenging of circumstances. We also know that this crisis is set to become even more acute over the coming weeks and months, as the number of people requiring urgent care continues to rise.

From our teams on the wards, intensive care units and emergency departments, to our porters, cleaners and support staff working on site and those working at a distance – all of our staff are playing their role in the fight against this deadly virus. This fund will support them as they support our patients.

Since the crisis began, the Royal Free Charity has been working closely with the RFL to identify exactly what our staff need to support them in their roles and to make life a little more bearable. Much of this will be funded by the government, but not everything.

We have launched the Royal Free Charity coronavirus Emergency Fund in response.

Our aim is to get a complete support service in place as soon as possible to help our staff in the weeks and months ahead. We hope that every penny will make a real difference to their lives; from the provision of care packages at the end of a very long shift, to psychological support and the creation of physical respite spaces, to responding to the suggestions they have for things that would help.

If you can, please share the news about the fund with your networks. You can find out more here https://www.royalfreecharity.org/. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the charity on .

The fund will be used to give our staff what they have asked for and what they need.

Thank you for your help and for playing a vital role in supporting our incredible team at this very difficult time.

Best wishes