Food banks set up for struggling Scots NHS heroes unable to feed their kids

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Food banks have been set up for NHS staff who are struggling to pay for meals for their children and unable to afford their bus fare to work in the Lothians.

They have been launched at various NHS sites around Edinburgh by members of Unison Lothian Health Branch, supporting staff who are experiencing economic hardship, reports Edinburgh Live.The services are being run by staff with the help of Edinburgh Food Project and the East Lothian Food bank.

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is among the sites operating the scheme.Jane Ferguson, Director of NHS Lothian Charity, said: "As the official charity of NHS Lothian, we are committed to supporting NHS Lothian staff who are experiencing economic hardship as a result of the cost of living crisis in whichever way we are able to."The Food Pantry idea was initiated by staff for staff, and Unison has been helping to coordinate this, working with us, Edinburgh Food Project and East Lothian Food Project to make this happen.

As well as supporting Unison with the Food Pantries, we have been working on a range of initiatives with NHS Lothian and other partners since the start of the pandemic to help support the mental, physical and financial wellbeing of staff."This includes the strategic roll-out of a welfare advice service, offering confidential access to advice on issues such as benefits, debt management, housing and employment rights.