Avios Thank You Appeal

“My Avios points will be a trip back home – thank you for thinking of us.”

My name is Juweriya, aka juju and I work at Northampton general hospital. My job is mentally and physically exhausting. I have seen families saying goodbyes to their loved ones, I have seen miracles happening, my team have worked so hard and I’ve seen them struggle due the amount of cases we get and being short of staff. It's very hard not to be able to see my family. So my Avios points will be a trip back home. It is not even about the price itself - it's about the gesture to think about us in the hospital. I wish I had millions of Avios points to share with my colleagues in critical care. It is nice to feel special and I wish everyone could feel the same. Thank you very much for the points and thank you for thinking of us. - Asma, Critical Care Staff

 

“I’m so grateful to have received this opportunity. Thank you so much!”

In my role I offer cognitive behavioural therapy to patients with mental health difficulties such as depression and anxiety. Coronavirus continues to impact my job immensely this year. Patients are presenting greater risk, lower mood, high anxiety and more complex presentations. I hope to spend my Avios points by going on holiday with my boyfriend! We met earlier this year, and because we both work in frontline NHS roles, we have really had no time off, and no chance to go anywhere exciting together yet! I'm so so grateful to have received this opportunity. Thank you so much! – Rhianne, Trainee CBT Therapist

 

“I hope to go away with my colleague – we have been through all this together and kept each other sane”

As respiratory nurses we have had to adapt fast to the challenges of Covid, we have been redeployed to work on the wards at times. We have also had to support many of our patients remotely many of whom have been shielding and are anxious. I hope to go away with my colleague Debbie as we have been through all this together and kept each other sane. Thankyou British Airways for this lovely gesture. – Katherine, Respiratory Nurse Specialist

 

“Thanks to Avios and Executive Club Members for this prize, I will use them to visit my family back home”

I am working as a Senior Radiographer and perform different type of X-rays and CT scans. I have rotational duties and work during nights, weekends and evening shifts. During Covid-19 pandemic, I have to wear full PPE (personal protective equipment) and had direct contact with covid patients in ICU and different wards. In the beginning, there were not sufficient PPE available and was a risk of getting covid by wearing a surgical mask. My department worked day and night to provide quality of service to covid patients and cleaning the room properly before having the next patient. Thanks to Avios and British Airways Executive Club Members for this prize, I will use them to visit my family back home in Pakistan as they were worried about me during peak covid time. I have not visited this year because of pandemic. Thank you so much. – Usman, Band 6 Radiographer

 

“I hope to spend this amazing award on treating my husband and children to a holiday for all the support they have shown me during this time.”

I’m a Consultant General Surgeon in RVH Belfast. As surgeons, we have seen a significant reduction in our elective operating as staff are redeployed elsewhere to help deal with the Coronovirus pandemic. I am also Clinical Lead for Major Trauma- during the first lockdown we saw a significant decrease in patients with injuries due to car crashes as there were less people on the roads. I am very proud of my colleagues and how they showed such flexibility and great team working throughout lockdown. I hope to spend this amazing award on treating my husband and children to a holiday for all the support they have shown me during this time. I would like to say thankyou to the British Airways team for this award. – Susan, Consultant General Surgeon

 

“I would spend my Avios on a well-deserved holiday with my loved ones”

As a catering assistant I help in the kitchen to support the cooks and keep the kitchen clean to a high standard. It has impacted my life because we’re having to deal with people isolating which then means more work with less people. Wearing a mask constantly has been something I’ve had to adapt to as well. I would spend my Avios to a well-deserved holiday with my loved ones. – Nadine, Catering Assistant

 

“A huge pleasure to use the Avios points for a well-deserved break”

Virology and Microbiology are the main Pathology departments that provide the SARS-COV 2 PCR testing on the swabs. As Microbiology Service Manager it is my responsibility to ensure that the testing was implemented as soon as possible with all the co ordinated support from the Scientific Leads and all the staff within Microbiology. As there is continuous demand to increase testing capacity I have been organising necessary staff, consumables and equipment/test reagents on weekly basis since the start of the pandemic. On personal level my wife and I have not had a proper break since November 2019 and would be a huge pleasure to use the Avios points for a well deserved break. – Girishkumar, Microbiology Service Manager

 

“So many thanks British Airways for this lovely gift which I will use to help with next year’s summer holiday!”

I am a Paediatric Nurse having worked for 39 years prior to my retirement from full time employment in February 2020 . I have since returned to work in my Trust Nurses Bank and am currently working in a busy children’s OPD. I could never have imagined something like this would have happened, but I am so happy to be able to help in any way I can, it is a privilege to do so. So many thanks British Airways for this lovely gift which I will use to help with next years summer holiday! - Anne, Staff Nurse

 

"I hope to use these points to have a much-needed break after 2020. Thank you so much.”

As a children's health care worker I was unable to fully fulfil my role. I was unable to care for the children that I normally look after and was limited in my job role. When restrictions then eased I was able to carry out previous tasks and provide much needed respite to very thankful families. However much changed in regards to the level of P.P.E needed to provide care for some of the most vulnerable children. I hope to use these points to have a much-needed break after 2020. Thank you so much. – Ryan, Health Care Worker

 

“I have no doubt that the points will go towards a well-deserved break in the future as I sure do miss my holidays.”

My role is to ensure that the hospital is being cleaned to the national specifications for cleanliness in the NHS. It is currently a very stressful time for both myself and my employees due to the coronavirus outbreak. We have a lot of shortfalls with vacancies, sickness and having to protect our BAME staff who are more at risk puts a lot of pressure onto existing staff, so I am currently trying to ensure the safety of my own staff along with the patients that we have coming into hospital. I have no doubt that the points will go towards a well-deserved break in the future as I sure do miss my holidays. Thank you for this kind gesture it really does mean a lot and gives both myself and my husband something to look forward to. – Elizabeth, Head of Domestic Services

“We should have just come back off our honeymoon yesterday. So these points are very much appreciated. Thank you so much.”

I’m a healthcare assistant based in the discharge lounge but mainly I work on the hospital’s transport vehicle, taking patients (including Covid positive patients) from wards to other wards around the hospital and to care homes nearby. With my Avios points, I would use for my honeymoon. I was due to get married this June which then got postponed to this October but has now been rearranged again for June 2021. We should have just come back off our honeymoon yesterday. So these points are very much appreciated. Thank you so much. – Toni, Healthcare Assistant

 

“I am very happy I have won these points and hope to take my family on holiday next summer, so will most likely use them for flights or car hire.”

Firstly, thank you very much for this kind gift. I am a community learning disability nurse and have continued to support my patients throughout this awful Pandemic. There are a lot of individuals who live independently with minimal support but unfortunately are unable to access community services with support, these services are currently not operating therefore these people are not only socially isolated from their support networks but also their communities. I have continued with my visits and support and feel I and many of my colleagues have never worked harder - this saying my patients and routines have kept me busy which has resulted in time passing rather fast, which during these times is not a bad thing. I am very happy I have won these points and hope to take my family on holiday next summer? (thinking positive) so will most likely use them for flights or car hire. Again, thank you all so very much and your kind staff who donated their points to us. - Richard, Community Learning Disability Nurse

 

“I am looking forward to spending the Avios points on a break to the Algarve with my wife and two teenagers for some sun, rest and relaxation and maybe a cocktail or two. Thanks you so much!!”

I am a learning disability nurse covering both inpatients and community service across two counties. I have worked long days since the start of the Covid pandemic ensuring that my services could continue to operate and that people with learning disabilities were still able to receive treatment. People with learning disabilities are approximately three times more likely to die from Covid so it’s important that their care from the nurses and other health professionals continues. Some of our vulnerable service users in my inpatient units tested positive but with good infection control practices its was contained and the service users made a good recovery. I am looking forward to spending the Avios points on a break to the Algarve with my wife and two teenagers for some sun, rest and relaxation and maybe a cocktail or two. Thanks you so much!! – John, Community Learning Disability Nurse

 

“I would really love to travel anywhere, Japan being top of my list to see cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji... Thank you so much for this award, I am over the moon!”

I work as project support for the IT department at Southampton General Hospital. My 'normal' day job supporting various digital projects stopped. I was asked to help with operational work to set up staff with home working and the equipment to help staff work from home, or to move to another location in the hospital where social distancing could happen. This enabled staff who needed to shield to keep safe but to continue to work remotely and look after our patients. I would really love to travel anywhere, Japan being top of my list to see cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji...you've gotta have a dream! Thank you so much for this award, I am over the moon! – Kathryn, UHS Digital Project Support Officer

 

“As a single mum, my children have paid the price for me working through the pandemic, and I hope to treat the three of us to a well longed for break when it is safe to do so.”

I work as a doctor and also am responsible for teaching medical students. As part of the coronavirus response we were one of the first trusts in the country to employ our students, working to assist in the pandemic response and I’m so proud of being part of this. My job has changed, almost irreversibly. We had to change the teaching we did overnight to be Covid safe, whilst at the same time doing extra shifts to assist clinically in the pandemic response. As a single mum, my children have paid the price for me working through the pandemic and I hope to treat the three of us to a well longed for break when it is safe to do so. I am so grateful to be part of this. - Hannah, Doctor and Clinical Education Fellow

 

“Thank you for helping us go on holiday, it will be my daughters’ first holiday and will make up for many lost hours with her.”

We’ve seen a complete overhaul of how we work, moving from face/face appointments to total telephone triage. Changing multiple surgeries to see sick Covid patients in a safe way but equally ensuring vulnerable patients can still access the care that they still need. Frustrations of lack of PPE and sourcing from all over the world to combat the difficulties in the national supply chain. Along with contractual changes, staff going off sick across the county and now planning the Covid vaccination programme. For most people lockdown and Covid has been a period where they have been able to spend more time with their family and spend more time at home, for me I have worked more hours than I’ve ever worked, 60 hours a week since March. Thank you for helping us go on holiday, it will be my daughters first holiday and will make up for many lost hours with her. – Adam, GP Partner/LMC Exec

“I would like to use my Avios on a special holiday with my husband to Santorini.”

Would look to spend my Avios on a long-awaited holiday (hopefully in 2021!) as like many people I had holidays cancelled this year. I would like to use Avios on a special holiday with my husband to Santorini maybe to make up for it. Thank you so much for giving these awards to NHS staff, we are truly grateful. - Kelly Jervis, Head of Emergency Planning and Business Continuity

 

“An upgrade would be the perfect start to our first holiday as a married couple.”

I am so proud of the NHS and my colleagues and what we’ve achieved but it’s been exhausting and we all need some time to recover. I am due to get married in October and hope to spend my Avios to go on my honeymoon. It would be a much-needed break for both of us after an intense and difficult year and an upgrade would be the perfect start to our first holiday as a married couple! - Aileen Crow, Occupational Therapist

 

“I’m going to put my Avios towards a ticket home to Ghana soon.”

As a nurse working with Covid-19, I kept the confidence in my patients up by repeating that we would take on and defeat Covid together. The most rewarding experience of all was seeing my patients declared medically fit for discharge. I’m going to use my Avios towards a ticket home to Ghana soon. - Emmanuel Prah, Staff Nurse

 

“Thank you for this kind gesture, it really does mean a lot”

I have no doubt that the Avios will go towards a well-deserved break in the future as I sure do miss my holidays. Thank you for this kind gesture it really does mean a lot, and gives both myself and my husband something to look forward to. - Elizabeth Anderson, Head of Domestic Services

 

“I am so grateful to be a part of this”

My job has changed, almost irreversibly. We had to change the teaching we did overnight to be Covid safe, whilst at the same time doing extra shifts to assist clinically in the pandemic response. As a single mum, my children have paid the price for me working through the pandemic and I hope to treat the three of us to a well longed for break when it is safe to do so. I am so grateful to be part of this. - Hannah Webber, Doctor and Clinical Education Fellow

 

“I would like to say thank you to the British Airways Executive Club for this award”

I am very proud of my colleagues and how they showed such flexibility and great team working throughout lockdown. I hope to spend this amazing award on treating my husband and children to a holiday for all the support they have shown me during this time. I would like to say thank you to the British Airways Executive Club for this award. - Susan Yoong, Consultant General Surgeon