STAFF at a North Ayrshire hospital recently received a generous four figure sum for all the hard work they have done throughout the pandemic.

The North Ayrshire based Dodds family visited the staff at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at University Hospital Crosshouse to donate over £3,000 in support all the staff’s hard work.

Charmaine Dodds’ husband, Lee Dodds, aged 32, passed away in April 2021 due to COVID-19 after a short time in ICU at University Hospital Crosshouse.

Following their heartbreak, Lee’s family decided to raise money for the intensive care unit staff to thank them for his care, with Lee’s cousin’s partner, Craig Chapman, running his first ever marathon.

Charmaine said: “A few months ago I donated approximately £2,000 towards memory boxes and resources to support children who have sadly lost a family member.

“This time my family and I wanted a way of saying thank you to the ICU staff who cared for my husband.

“Losing Lee has been devastating. This donation is our way of saying thank you to every staff member in the ICU, who went above and beyond to try and make him well.

“The staff working in the unit are worth their weight in gold, taking the time to listen to us in our darkest moments.

“The compassion they showed us will never be forgotten.”

Dr John Allan, Clinical Director for Intensive Care Medicine in Ayrshire and Arran, said: “We are extremely grateful to all the family for their kind words.

“I would like to thank them for their very generous donation to the Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital Crosshouse.

“My colleagues have expressed their huge gratitude to the family for their thoughtfulness and drive to fundraise at these most difficult of times.

“It has been a humbling experience for us all.

“All of the funds will be used to support our incredible staff in the work that they do in the delivery of critical care services in Ayrshire. Thank you.”

North Ayrshire alone has lost 435 lives since the COVID-19 pandemic began back in March 2020.

For more information on keeping safe from COVID-19 visit https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-protective-measures