St Richard's Hospital staff being delivered gifts funded by public donations

Staff at St Richard's who had just received a surprise delivery of Easter Eggs

Staff at St Richard's Hospital will receive flowers this evening (Thursday, April 23), as part of an initiative set up in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hug A Hospital (HAH), set up as a crowdfunding campaign, buys metaphorical hugs for hospitals to raise morale across all hospital staff.

It was started by Fernhurst resident Emma Black, Georgie Parr, Harriet Eastwood and Katy de Laszlo to raise money for hospitals, 'big and small'.

Emma said: "Hug A Hospital is here to stay as we hope to be giving out these metaphoric hugs long after the crisis as we recognise that there will be great need for support regarding the fallout from this crisis on hospital staff mental health.

Hospital staff enjoying soups and puddings sourced & delivered by Hug A Hospital.

"This Thursday, we have organised with St Richard's Hospital, Chichester to deliver bunches of flowers to hospital staff as they leave from their day shift at 7.30 to 8pm. We are especially pleased as this will coincide with the clap.

"We are a very personal crowdfunding initiative to supply hospitals with metaphorical hugs in order to raise morale in their hospital staff, and remind them that the communities surrounding them love them, appreciate and support all their courageous work."

Emma said these 'hugs' come in 'all shapes and sizes', ranging from; fruit and vegetable boxes; freshly baked treats; Easter eggs; soups and puddings; bottles of water; beanbags; wireless speakers and handcream — many of which have been received at St Richard's.

She added: "We also are contacting schools, friends and family to send in thank you pictures for their children and we then send them on to the hospitals or include them in our deliveries as another metaphoric hug."