Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH) is proud to announce that East Surrey Hospital has been chosen as one of just 15 hospitals nationwide to rollout a new pilot programme by NHS England and Sophie’s Legacy.
Sophie Fairall - Available at: Creating change | Sophies Legacy
The initiative will provide access to hot, nutritious meals for parents of children admitted to the hospital and aims to help reduce the stress and financial pressure on parents by ensuring they have access to quality food during an already difficult time.
The pilot project has been made possible through a generous £5,000 grant from charity Sophie’s Legacy, which was set up in memory of Sophie Fairall who died from a rare form of childhood cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma in September 2021.
Tina Hetherington, Chief Nurse at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We are delighted to be working with NHS England and Sophie’s Legacy on this joint initiative which will provide parents of children receiving care on our wards with access to healthy, good quality meals. This will help to reduce stress on them and improve the overall hospital experience for families during what can be a challenging time”.
Ensuring that parents have nutritious meals while supporting their child in hospital will lead to better outcomes overall and reflects the Trust’s commitment to supporting families during their hospital journey.
Charlotte Fairall, CEO of Sophie’s Legacy, expressed her satisfaction with the project's launch: “I am pleased we have managed to get this project launched. The impact this will have on families across the hospitals will be significant. No parent should have to go hungry when they are in hospitals with their child, and we are doing all we can to change this”.