St Mark's Hospital is part of the London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, one of London's largest acute NHS trusts. Our Covid-19 story has been widely publicised in the media.

The first Covid-19 surge was relentless; St Mark's medical professionals worked tirelessly over several months, supporting their wider hospital colleagues to treat Covid-19 patients. However, they also remained acutely aware that the health challenges of their colorectal and gastroenterology patients had not gone away. And so, at the same time as uniting with their medical colleagues across the UK to fight a new virus, they:

1. Managed competing priorities to provide continuity of care to St Mark's surgical patients, even when the Hospital was overwhelmed. Sixteen year old, Oliver, underwent major surgery at St Mark's during the first Covid-19 surge for his inflammatory bowel disease. He is extremely grateful to his medical team, which includes surgeon, Mr Janindra Warusavitarne, for providing him with the best care:

For Mr Warusavitarne, seeing Oliver thrive after his surgery is a source of immense joy.

2. Ensured that patients still had access to core St Mark's services, such as the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) advice line, especially at the pandemic's height when demand for the service more than doubled.

Patients remain at the centre of the St Mark's IBD team's decision-making as they adapt and respond to an ever-changing environment.

3. Worked with colleagues in other departments to develop patient-centred solutions. The award-winning Stay.Connected video-calling initiative gave redeployed St Mark's research fellows renewed purpose at an exceptionally challenging time. Stay.Connected maintained connection between almost 200 isolated patients and their loved ones:

4. Used music, its own kind of medicine, to support staff and patient well-being. Dr Max Pitcher, a senior Consultant Gastroenterologist at St Mark's, is an accomplished violinist who has been serenading staff and patients during the pandemic to lift spirits and inspire hope. Nurse, Alicia, whose four-week battle with Covid-19 required hospitalisation, was treated to a musical performance when she was discharged. She says:

The rainbow has been the symbol of hope during Covid-19, and the medical professionals we have profiled represent some of the rainbows in our darkest moments of the pandemic.

However, as the dawn of a New Year approaches, and with uncertain times still ahead, St Mark's healthcare heroes need your messages of support. These will not only help to restore their hope, but your donation could support the Hospital's life-restoring research. Some of this research has transformed in importance and relevance in the wake of Covid-19.

We end our seasonal appeal with a video from Dr Pitcher, in which he describes how important music has been to him during the pandemic, and in his endeavours to support others. Poignantly, the video opens with his emotional rendition of, 'Somewhere over the Rainbow', a song synonymous with not losing hope for brighter days:

Thank you sincerely for your support.

Jason Bacon , CEO , St Mark's Hospital Foundation