The Harlequins Foundation has joined the NHS fundraising appeal for the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation, which is playing a key role tackling the COVID-19 outbreak across local south-west London communities including Teddington.

The hospitals, including our local hospital West Middlesex, are now preparing for a significant increase in patients needing support on intensive care units.

Plans include accelerating the opening of 10 new Intensive Care beds, embedding new digital solutions to monitor and communicate with patients and carers, providing enhanced training for staff and deploying a skilled volunteer workforce to support the needs of both patients and staff.

To meet this requirement and in consultation with clinicians and managers across the hospitalsthey have launched the COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund through their charity (CW+) to help their staff provide the best possible care for these patients.

The fund is designed to accelerate and increase their intensive care bed capacity and provide support for frontline staff at a time of unprecedented demand on their services.

The COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund will support the hospitals in three key areas:

NEW EQUIPMENT, including scanners, blood gas machines and patient vital-sign monitors;

NEW TECHNOLOGY, including remote monitoring devices, digital consultation tools and tablets and

SUPPORT FOR FRONTLINE STAFF, including the setting up of Health and Wellbeing hubs at their hospitals to provide respite, information and refreshment for their teams; and the recruitment and deployment of a specialist volunteer workforce to support staff and patients on their wards and across the organisation.

The Head of the Harlequins Foundation, Marc Leckie said: "I was on a humbling call with the hospital last Friday when I heard how much pressure the staff are under and it will come as no surprise that we want to help.

"We are re-focusing as much of our capacity as possible to provide support and raise much needed funds during this crisis. We are also working closely with CW+ to identify how we might provide support to the staff and their families in the long term."

Quins' Chris Robshaw said: "The hospital is in desperate need of funds to provide vital equipment, new technology and extra support for frontline staff to deal with coronavirus.

"I feel proud that Quins can act as a force for good in these times and hope that you may join us in supporting them by donating below."

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/QuinsSupportTheNHS?dm_i=4UP3,BNCR,VJX9O,1ABIT,1