I have worked in the NHS for 38 years and always believed in the principles of by looking after our staff, leads to great care for our patients.

My second job as a staff nurse within the surgical division was here at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust where I spent 2 very happy years prior to completing my midwifery training. I worked in various Trusts until I retired 3 years ago.

In 2021, I came back to Gateshead as a non-executive director and this is my 3rd year in post. My reasons for coming back to Gateshead was because I had such happy memories working in Gateshead and really believed in the values of the Trust. Coming back to look around again reminded me of how everyone enjoyed working here, what a caring environment it was and how staff looked out for one another and that feeling of coming back to the family I had left many years ago.

On a more personal note, 20 years ago this year, I was a patient of Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust where I received amazing cancer care with Mr Browell, who is sadly no longer with us, and his team and that again, was one of the other reasons for me coming back to work at Gateshead.

Gateshead NHS Foundation Trust Board are extremely committed to making our Trust the best place for staff to work in Gateshead to enable them to deliver the best possible care for the community we serve and recognise how hard all of our staff work going above and beyond for our patients every day and that in these times of hardship, staff may also be finding it very difficult.

I really wanted to give something back to say a big thank you to our staff and decided to “take the plunge” jumping a whopping 10,000ft in a tandem skydive to raise much needed funds to support staff health and wellbeing across the Trust. This will support the continuation of staff accessing initiatives like the Leg Up Scheme, staff meal vouchers, staff wellbeing dog therapy, wellbeing activities and much more.

Dale Jones, Health & Well Being Lead, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, explained "sustained pressures on our workforce continue to pose major challenges for our many of our colleagues. In spite of this, our teams continue to go over and above to deliver outstanding care to our patients.

Anna’s leap will help us to fund initiatives that will directly support staff wellbeing at work, helping ensure that they have access to some of the basic necessities that help to keep them well and comfortable while at work.”

To make a difference for our staff here in Gateshead, I need your help! Please show your support by making a donation via my JustGiving page, no amount is too small as every penny counts. Please don’t forget to add Gift Aid to add an additional 25% to your donation at no extra cost to you.

Thank you for your support, Anna and Gateshead Health Charity Team.