NHS Trusts staff foodbanks on rise

New research1 from NHS Charities Together suggests over half of NHS Trusts and Health Boards could be providing or planning to provide foodbanks for their staff. 

 In a survey of NHS charities1, who support every Trust and Health Board in the UK, 21% of the 34 who responded said they had an active foodbank for NHS staff or are implementing one, and a further 35% are exploring the possibility. 

Of the six active foodbanks who responded, three were newly opened between October-December 2022. Across these six alone, they estimate nearly 5000 NHS staff are making use of them on a monthly basis, with around 550 of these nurses.

 In addition to food banks, over half of the NHS charities surveyed (53%) are looking at other food support for staff – these include voucher programmes, free breakfasts, and subsidised meals in the canteen, where staff can also bring their families.

 Ellie Orton OBE, Chief Executive of NHS Charities Together, said: “As the cost of living escalates, like many employers NHS Trusts and the charities who support them are looking at ways to help staff through the crisis. But with pressures facing NHS workers already so extreme, it’s heart-breaking that some are having to resort to using food banks to get by. 

“Right now hardship funds and support are the main topic of interest for NHS charities. Queries from our members range from the setting up of Benevolent Funds and access to travel bursaries, to the possibility of providing hot meal vouchers and other basic support, including food banks.

 “As a sector we are proud to support the staff and patients of the NHS however we can, and sadly today that support is more important than ever.” 

Examples of the response to increased need amongst staff include in Liverpool, where Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust’s partnership with a food poverty charity is providing around three trollies of food a week, with other staff also donating items. 

Michelle Turner, Chief People Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We know with the pressures of the current financial climate, like many other people our staff may be finding things more difficult at the moment. We decided to set up a staff pantry to provide help to anyone who may need it - no questions asked. The pantry consists of sealed and dry foods as well as other essential items such as sanitary products which can be accessed by staff 24/7. The running costs of the pantry is managed through our staff health and wellbeing fund as well as relying on kind donations of items from staff who are in a position to donate and donations from other partners in the city. So far it has been very well received and we will continue offering it for as long as it is needed.” 

In Lothian, Food Pantries have been set up by the local Unison branch with support from NHS Lothian Charity and Edinburgh and East Lothian Food Projects to help staff who are struggling financially because of the increased prices of gas, electricity, mortgages and more. 

Jane Ferguson, Director of NHS Lothian Charity, said: “As an NHS charity, we are committed to working together with partners to support our local NHS staff who are experiencing economic hardship as a result of this crisis in whichever way we are able to. Unison Lothian Health Branch had been made aware that some staff were struggling to buy food for their children or didn’t have enough for their bus fare to come into work and, together, we wanted to do something to help. With funding from the Charity for food parcels, Unison has co-ordinated setting up Food Pantries at various sites across Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian and West Lothian for staff in need of additional support.” 

As the national charity caring for the NHS, NHS Charities Together works with a network of over 230 NHS charities providing extra support in every hospital and health board in the UK. To find out more about NHS Charities Together and the work NHS charities do to support staff, please visit www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk