Send your support to our hero nurses

Almost halfway through another month of Level 5 restrictions, hospitals around the country are continuing to treat high numbers of patients for Covid-19.

While we can follow guidelines to help keep cases low and in turn help our healthcare workers, the Mercy University Hospital Foundation is asking people to go a step further and send a message of support to frontline staff at the Mercy University Hospital.

This can include messages of thanks, encouragement, photos or drawings to help support staff through this new surge of cases and let them know how much they are appreciated.

Messages have already begun flowing in from the public and grateful patients. Some of the youngest supporters so far are James and Matthew Egan, aged ten and seven, respectively. The Ballinlough brothers’ aunt, Eibhlín, works at the Mercy Hospital and is one of many staff members who have seen messages of support from the public over the last week.

James and Matthew took the time to make colourful posters to thank all the staff at the Mercy Hospital. Their mother, Maire said: “James would like to say a huge thank you to his auntie Eibhlín and all her colleagues who work so hard and Matthew also wants to send a big thank you to his auntie Eibhlín and to remind everyone to stay safe.”

Their posters along with other messages from the public are on display in the hospital canteen for staff to view every day.

Speaking about the request for messages, Interim CEO of the Mercy Hospital Foundation, Julie Harris said: “The incredible staff at the Mercy University Hospital have been working so hard throughout the pandemic. They are going above and beyond every day to keep us all safe and we want them to know just how much they are appreciated. We are asking people of all ages to send in words of thanks or encouragement or drawings that might help staff through this difficult time.

“We hope that this will be a big boost to staff morale and will give the public a chance to directly thank those who have been working at the frontline of this crisis. We are also giving people the option to send a donation with their message to allow us to continue supporting the staff and patients of the Mercy University Hospital.”

Messages can be sent to staff by going online to mercyfundraising.ie.