Caring for Carers: A small thank you for NHS Lothian staff
As the NHS approaches its birthday on 5 July, NHS Lothian Charity is taking a moment to recognise and thank staff across Lothian for the care, compassion and dedication they show every day.
To mark this, the Charity is sharing Caring for Carers, a staff wellbeing initiative designed to celebrate and support those who care for others, often in busy and demanding environments.
As part of the initiative, Caring for Carers packs have been distributed to ward-based teams across hospital sites. Each pack brings together a small selection of items intended to offer a moment of appreciation during the working day.
This includes Nursem “Promise Packs” – nourishing hand cream generously donated through Nursem’s Promise scheme, where one product is given for every item purchased. In total, 338 Promise Packs were available and have been prioritised for ward-based teams who regularly wash their hands throughout the day.
To help ensure staff across NHS Lothian can still benefit, additional hand cream has also been made available in Wellbeing Wings across hospital sites.
Alongside the hand cream, the packs include a thank-you message and small engagement items designed to bring a moment of connection and positivity to teams.
Caring for Carers is part of NHS Lothian Charity’s wider work to support staff wellbeing. From creating calm spaces like Wellbeing Wings to supporting creative and nature-based activities, the Charity aims to help staff feel appreciated, supported and connected.
Tumong Edwards, Community and Events Fundraiser at NHS Lothian Charity, said:
The amazing staff who work in NHS Lothian spend so much of their time caring for others, often in really busy and demanding environments. Caring for Carers is a small way of recognising that dedication and giving something back. We hope these packs bring a moment of care and appreciation to people during their day.”
The initiative has been made possible thanks to a generous donation of hand cream Promise Packs from Nursem, and the support of NHS Lothian teams in distributing the packs across sites.
While opportunities like this often depend on donations and partnerships, NHS Lothian Charity continues to look for ways to bring similar moments of appreciation to staff.
At its heart, Caring for Carers is about taking a moment to say thank you and recognising the incredible contribution of NHS staff across Lothian.
Frequently Asked Questions
Caring for Carers is a staff wellbeing initiative led by NHS Lothian Charity. On this occasion, it involves distributing donated Nursem hand cream “Promise Packs” and other offers to ward staff across NHS Lothian to say thank you for the care provided every day. Together these form a Caring for Carers pack.
The Caring for Carers packs are part of wider activities that celebrate NHS staff, support staff wellbeing with a gesture of thanks, recognise the work done caring for others, and raise awareness of NHS Lothian Charity and future opportunities to get involved.
The hand cream (“Promise Pack”) was kindly donated by Nursem through their Nursem Promise scheme, where one Promise Pack is given for every product purchased.
NHS Lothian Charity provided the other items included in the Caring for Carers packs and brought everything together for distribution.
Thank you to NHS Lothian for their support in distributing the packs across hospital sites.
338 Promise Packs were donated by Nursem. In line with the Nursem Promise, these have been prioritised for ward-based teams who regularly wash their hands.
Promise Packs have also been made available in Wellbeing Wings across hospital sites so that everyone has the opportunity to access and benefit from the hand cream.
No, there was no application process. This was intentional to keeping things simple, fair and accessible and to avoid placing any additional demands on busy staff or disadvantaging those less familiar with the Charity.
Yes, some Promise Packs have also been placed in Wellbeing Wings, so staff who didn’t receive a Promise Pack may still access them there.
No, there is no obligation or requirement. This is simply a thank you gesture. Staff are welcome, but not required, to engage with activities included within the Caring for Carers pack if they wish.
Each pack includes Nursem hand cream, a thank-you message, small engagement items such as a selfie sign, information about NHS Lothian Charity and ways to get involved.
As the official charity of NHS Lothian, companies often contact us with ways they can help support staff, patients and services.
This also helps us expand the work that we do to thank and connect with staff, raise awareness of our work and how we can support you, as well as provide opportunities to get involved in events, fundraising, or wellbeing activities.
Yes, NHS Lothian Charity supports a wide range of staff wellbeing initiatives – from creating calming spaces like Wellbeing Wings to supporting nature-based and creative activities, resources and moments that help staff feel recognised, supported and connected. Take a look at our website for more information on the types of projects, initiatives and activities that we support.
Opportunities like these packs often come through the relationships the Charity has with partners and donors, so while we’re always looking to build on them, they are not guaranteed to happen regularly.
At its heart, this is about saying thank you, lifting spirits, and celebrating NHS staff in a simple, positive way.
NHS Lothian Charity worked to compile the most accurate list of clinical areas possible, but due to the size and complexity of services, some areas may not have been fully captured or may be grouped differently.
Packs were then distributed across sites as fairly as possible, based on this information and the number available. In some cases, this may have resulted in certain departments receiving more than one pack while others did not receive one directly.
To help widen access, additional packs have also been placed in Wellbeing Wings across hospital sites so that more staff have the opportunity to benefit.