NHS: Supporting from Afar

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At the age of 14 I genuinely thought I was going to be a doctor…until I discovered, when taking Biology, I really could not deal with all the blood and gore so I have to have a rethink. I grew up in an NHS household; mother was a nurse, stepdad was a nurse, nanny was a receptionist in the hospital I was born etc. Fast forward more years than I care to remember and we find ourselves in the middle of a global pandemic and Mr Tutu’s sister, is working as a Doctor in an Emergency Department on the front line, my mother is a carer, her partner works in administration for the NHS and that is just my family. Being unable to see them, as well as concerned for both their physical and mental wellbeing is so difficult. We, the rest of the families, feel powerless to do anything more than to clap on a Thursday evening with the rest of the UK. However, we wanted to do more. I consider myself in a fortunate position when it comes to my job and working with so many wonderful brands and reached out to see if some of them would like to work with me in sending gifts to my amazing sister in law, working on the front line so that when she does finish work, in the most horrific of circumstances, she can go home, switch off and relax. It felt like sending these gifts was something we could do from afar. If you’re looking for something to send a key worker, then perhaps these ideas will help.

Let’s face it, who doesn’t love a motivational mug and this gorgeous “Fabulous” mug from White Stuff is the perfect reminder, each and every day that what our key workers are doing is incredible. Team it with a beautiful Wild Jasmine Treat Trio for total relaxation. I imagine one of the most difficult things to do is switching off at the end of the day.

Bioskin Zeoderm Skin Repair Moisturiser is Salcura best-selling deep nourishment cream for anyone with dry to severely dry skin. The powerful ingredients in this cream will allow the skin to regain strength in order to find a healthy balance.  Zeoderm cream contains many natural ingredients that can help relieve itchiness and soothe any irritation.  Ingredients such as Jojoba Oil and Linseed oil are two powerhouse ingredients gifted from nature that can make a dramatically positive difference when battling challenged skin.  For any key workers constantly having to wear masks, this is a great treat to help combat the sore skin.

Alternatively, Menthoderm is a premium menthol in aqueous cream that serves as a cooling and soothing moisturiser, perfect for those who are having to consistently sanitise their hands, or wear PPE for prolonged periods of time. The cooling properties of menthol provides a relief to the itchy dry-ness caused by the aforementioned, and Menthoderm® can be seen as an alternative to a hand cream or an emollient to provide that light refreshing feeling and will leave your skin feeling cool and rejuvenated.

For something refreshing at the end of a long shift there is of course Cranes! At Cranes they handcraft a refreshingly natural fruit cider in Cambridge, that comes in three tantalising flavours: Blueberries & Apples, Cranberries & limes and Raspberries & Pomegranates. Their cider is gluten-free and vegan and contains 30% fewer calories than brand leaders by utilising the sweetness of the super fruits they use. They offer all three of their ciders in a gorgeous gift set along with a pint glass that would be the perfect treat for an NHS worker who wants to relax and unwind after a long shift.

De-stress the mind and relieve aches and pains with this concentrated, revitalising, magical bath potion from Magic Organic Apothecary. An invigorating herbal blend, sure to put the spring back in your step after a long, tiring day. With skin toning, refreshing peppermint, detoxifying fennel, calming, relaxing fir needle, sweet birch to ease achy muscles and finally yarrow extract soothes and calms. They are currently offering a wellbeing discount CARE30 for 30% discount from their website and 50% OFF for NHS workers if you contact them prior to ordering!

Of course it is not just hands and face that are feeling the brunt of the pandemic but also the feet. Workers are having to be on their feet for an awfully long time, up to 14 hour shifts in some cases and so care needs to be taken there. O’Keeffe’s offer hand, face and foot treatments helping repair dry, rough skin and providing 48 hours of moisturisation, the concentrated, long-lasting formula is free from micro beads – which is great for the environment.

In the family WhatsApp chat, we have seen the state of Mr Tutu’s sister’s skin post mask wearing as have many of us across the images shared on social media. Not only are they sacrificing themselves but they are suffering too and for facial problems a mask would be great.

A rich, creamy blend of aloe vera, bee propolis and chamomile.  The Aloe Propolis Creme’s moisturising and conditioning properties make for an excellent everyday moisturiser and helps to soothe irritation. N.B. Suitable for people prone to dry skin conditions.

There is also Aloe bio-cellulose face-mask. Through a special process that is unique to Forever Living, aloe vera gel is naturally fermented with seagrass and is fused into the bio-cellulose to moisturise, soothe, and condition skin. In addition, a serum enriched with glycerine, green tea, and horse chestnut helps  to hydrate and rejuvenate dull skin, reduce the appearance of redness, and helps to fight free radicals.  Bio-cellulose is a natural fibre, a thousand times thinner than a human hair; these porous fibres can be can be ‘pre-loaded’ with ingredients and because they are so fine they mould completely to the face helping with the absorption of skin boosting nutrients. The mask is eco-friendly and biodegradable and vegan.

We also know how tired they must be getting and obviously this can make you really emotional. Something that won’t help is sore eyes…especially if you wear contact lenses. We were delighted when Vision Direct offered to let us get her some contact lenses, in  her prescription, with fluid AND that they were delivered the very next day. It is good to know these prescriptions can be got so quickly, especially if you forget to order. Plus there are loads of different finishes available meaning you can find the ones to suit your eyes – she likes the comfort ones!

There is no doubt that the rainbow has become a sort of symbol of hope for us during these uncertain times and it seemed really important to pass on this hope to key workers as well who maybe have the least hope of any of us. This Rainbow Mug from Red Candy just seemed the perfect addition to a gift box meant to show we care.

We want to make sure that all our key workers keep their energy up too, so some good snacks to take with them on the go that also feel like a treat are perfect and Gnawbles are that! Brilliant Orange Cacao Protein Gnawbles – these crispy nibbles of pea protein coated in Dark Orange Chocolate are deliciously more-ish. They are Free From all Top-14 Allergens, making them  suitable for vegans and allergy sufferers! With 43% less sugar than the market leading brand, you can enjoy your favourite snack without having to worry about eating too much sugar!

There are also Mummy Meagz Rocky Roads. The bars are made to a biscuit recipe from Mummy Meagz herself (founder of the brand), and are self-styled as the best gluten free biscuits in the world. With no nuts, eggs, dairy or gluten, Rocky Road is another step towards fulfilling Mummy Meagz’ mission of making luxurious treats everyone can enjoy – especially our valued NHS staff! Each variant in the Rocky Road range is approved by the Vegan Society. Because Mummy Meagz believes treats only taste good if they do good, all products in the range are free of Genetically Modified ingredients (GMOs) and contain only palm oil considered sustainable by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Further, their bright foil wrapping means they stand out in a goodie bag. Four flavours are available in the range: Original, Sea Salt and Cinder Toffee, Orange and Mint.