By Zach Saunders
A Leicester NHS doctors surgery is offering free food parcels to anyone who has been financially impacted by the pandemic, in a bid to help and support the community.
Spectrum Health in Oadby, previously known as Severn Surgery, is inviting its patients, as well as non-patients, to apply for food parcels should their financial situation be troubled due to the pandemic.
To date the surgery team have provided 142 food parcels, and offer a large selection including canned drinks and food, pasta, crisps, nuts, cereals and much more.
Shaun Chadwick, the senior executive partner at Spectrum Health, said: “We saw that the pandemic not only has obvious ramifications, it has had a serious effect on people’s mental health, so we decided to take a different stance.”
The surgery staff have also been preparing and distrubuting food parcels for those shielding, alongside collecting medication and essential supplies.
Mr Chadwick said: “People are always so pleased and thank us for their support, they are happy to receive a helping hand at their time of need.”
The surgery has also been holding virtual befriending video calls with patients who are shielding, and even held a virtual games day on Christmas Day to help combat loneliness.
As well as the staff’s befriending video calls, Spectrum Health also has a number of schemes to promote a healthy lifestyle, such as sponsoring several grassroots sports clubs and providing new and existing patients with free Fitbits to promote walking during lockdown.
Mr Chadwick said: “The aim of this being two-fold, to promote a healthy lifestyle and help with mental health during the lockdown.”
Anyone who has been financially impacted by the pandemic who is interested in seeking a free food parcel from Spectrum Health can contact the surgery via its Facebook page, by sending an email to spectrum.health@nhs.net, calling the surgery on 0116 271 9042, or visiting in person at the surgery at 159 Uplands Road, Oadby, LE2 4NW – but please abstain from unnecessary travel.
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