FREE meals will now be provided for parents of children receiving care at Warrington Hospital.

This is thanks to a new scheme introduced at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals (WHH).

Often when parents are caring for a child who is ill in hospital, during what may be a very stressful time, they can find it hard to leave the bedside or step away to eat a nutritious meal.

The trust already offers parents hot and cold drinks, breakfast and sandwiches while delivering ward meals for the children, however at present they need to source additional meals for themselves.

Following an initial pilot at nine hospitals last year, WHH received £5,000 funding from Sophie’s Legacy to introduce a hot meal initiative as part of the national ‘parents to be fed’ campaign.

Sophie’s Legacy was created in memorial of Sophie Fairall, who had just turned nine when she was diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma. While unwell, Sophie created a bucket list which included improving access to meals for parents staying with their children in hospital.

The initial funding has enabled a microwave, crockery and freezer filled with meals to be installed in the family room on the Lovely Lane site’s children’s ward. Parents staying on the ward are now able to access hot food 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Thanks to the support of Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals Charity, the funding has subsequently been matched, meaning the scheme can now be extended.

Tracy Fennell, deputy chief nurse and director of governance at WHH, said: “Having a child in hospital can be one of the most difficult times for a parent to go through, and thinking about food for themselves is not a priority.

“By ensuring parents’ basic needs are met, we can support them to be more actively involved and engaged in discussions and decisions with clinicians around their child’s care plan.

“We are extremely grateful to have received the funding from Sophie’s Legacy to initiate the programme, and for the ongoing support from our WHH Charity to continue this longer term.

“I am delighted to see this up and running and know it will make such a difference to families receiving care at WHH.”

More than 1,000 meals will be provided by the charity, helping parents to easily access a balanced and nutritious meal and ease any financial costs that can inevitably add up when staying in hospital with their child.

Helen Higginson, head of fundraising for Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals Charity, said: “We are delighted that the charity has been able to support such a fantastic scheme to improve the experience of parents and their children receiving care on the ward.

“Raising funds to provide comforts, care and support that go beyond which the NHS is able to provide is a core part of our charity’s aims and we are proud to support projects that have such a meaningful impact.

“Without the kind donations and fundraising for the hospital charity it would not have been possible to support this scheme, and I know it will be gratefully received by families on the ward.”

Charlotte Fairall, founder and CEO of Sophie’s Legacy, said: “I was so pleased to see how Sophie’s Legacy has been introduced at Warrington Hospital, allowing parents to access hot meals 24/7 so close to the ward.

“Meeting this fundamental need recognises the vital role that parents play in looking after a child in hospital.

“I am delighted that WHH Charity has also pledged funds to lengthen the pilot by funding a further stock of meals which will no doubt help to relieve the stress and financial burden experienced by many parents with a child in hospital.”

If you would like to support the initiative and fund meals for parents in hospital with their child, please visit the WHH Charity Just Giving page and note that your donation is for free parent meals.