Dear Consultant colleagues,

Clinical Excellence Awards this year will be not based on a competitive entry but divided equally between all eligible Consultants.

I would like to ask you to consider donating £400 (or amount you feel comfortable donating) of your post tax award back to a ring-fenced fund to share our award with the entire staff body. This is to recognise that we as Consultants are not the only people deserving of the excellence award. Countless, nurses, physios, radiographers, porters and people across the hospital have adapted and performed beyond their normal working remit to ensure we as a team function and get through the COVID onslaught.

What will we do with the money?

It depends on how much we donate as a body. If its around £3,000 then probably a socially distanced ice-cream van for staff to have a 99 flake.

If its around £20,000 then we would consider dividing it up between the various areas (eg therapies, each ward, radiology etc) and buy them something they want for the department.

We want this to be fast palpable and recognisable. So it will be clear and stated this was 'donated by the Consultant Body'. We are happy to consider your suggestions on how to help.

Who will manage the money?

The SASH Charity, led by Andrew Bickerdike, will ensure that it is ring fenced and there is transparency on what it was use for. This will not be added to a overall fund, hence ensuring that there is a clear line from the money donated by us as a body of Consultants to the Staff at SASH.

Can the money be taken straight out of my pay cheque?

No. You must be paid the money legally into you account (and pay tax on it), and this is your choice to donate it back should you feel comfortable. Also we should not look to make this a unilateral decision but that which we as individuals make.

Will this effect me next year in my CEA award?

No, this is purely for this year, and will not effect your CEA application next year.

How can I donate?

This will be done via this justgiving.com page, which helps collect gift aid on donations where eligible.

The donation can be anonymous should you chose.

I would like you to consider this. We are #oneteam, and are outstanding this year because we have all worked together to get through this first onslaught. Let us show leadership and camaraderie by sharing the recognition of excellence with that same #oneteam.

Mr Karan Kapoor

FRCS-ORL MEd DIC MRCS DOHNS MBBS BSc

ENT Head & Neck Surgeon

www.sashcharity.org