By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
A Nottinghamshire hospital trust has said it is offering support to members of staff who are affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust (SFH), which runs King’s Mill, Mansfield Community and Newark Hospitals, says it is offering help to its staff who have been impacted by the crisis “in any way”.
And the trust has also confirmed its plans to coordinate with wider NHS teams to provide voluntary contributions or charitable donations to help with humanitarian aid in the country.
It comes as Ukraine’s war with Russia entered its eighth day, with United Nations estimates suggesting as many as one million people may have fled the country in the past week.
Russian forces are now believed to have taken several key Ukrainian cities with hundreds of civilians thought to have been killed so far during the conflict.
And speaking during a board meeting on Thursday (March 3), bosses at SFH have confirmed the trust is issuing an arm of support to its employees and the public impacted by the crisis.
Claire Ward, chair of the board of directors, outlined some of the help the organisation will provide.
She said: “We’d like to reiterate to members of the public and, indeed, to our staff the support we wish to offer for any of our members of staff who have families in Ukraine or are impacted in any way.
“It’s something we’re also raising with the NHS Confederation to see how we can coordinate any additional support across the NHS.
“This is particularly in relation to any active engagement of work around voluntary contributions, charitable donations or other items.”
Paul Robinson, the trust’s chief executive, added: “We’re really working hard to support colleagues who have been impacted and continue to be impacted by events in Ukraine.
“Wellbeing support is being offered to those individuals and we’re looking at how we can support with ongoing charitable donations.”
It comes after leaders of the three key groups on Nottinghamshire County Council issued a joint statement last week condemning Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine.
The statement, read out at the full council meeting on February 24, said: “On behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council, elected members unanimously condemn the actions of Vladimir Putin and the Russian government.
“We express our horror at the disregard for human life, national sovereignty and international rule of law.
“This council stands with the people of Ukraine and their friends and relatives living in Nottinghamshire. This is an unprovoked attack on a sovereign nation by a rogue state.
“The people that will suffer the most will be the civilians on both sides. We express our unity of support for the democratically-elected government and the people of Ukraine.
“And we call upon the UK Government and its NATO allies to offer the maximum possible support, humanitarian aid and military support for the Ukrainian people.”
A series of sanctions by the UK, the US and the EU have targeted Russian banks and key oligarchs, aimed at impacting the country’s economy.
It has led to the Rouble, the nation’s currency, falling to a record low.
