Twin sister medics returning to the same front-line ICU inspire new NHS auction.

Practitioner and doctor head back from maternity leave to help support their colleagues

NHS Charity Auction CovidWhen Ewbank’s Auctioneers decided to stage a charity auction for the NHS they had a particularly personal reason for doing so.

Alastair McCrea, who heads the auction house’s Entertainment & Sporting Memorabilia department, had just waved goodbye to his wife Caroline, who was returning to work as an Advanced Critical Care Practitioner in Intensive Care at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth after maternity leave, leaving 9-month-old Joshua at home with Alastair.

Joining her in ICU was her twin sister, Francesca, a doctor who was also returning from maternity leave having given birth to daughter Willow the day before Joshua was born.

“It’s been an intense experience for Caroline and Francesca,” reveals Alastair. “After Caroline’s first shift on April 2, she came home shocked at the number of patients coming into the hospital. With both our parents in the vulnerable /elderly category and lack of nurseries available this is a tough time for us.”

Alastair revealed that the hardest part has been the impact of the protective clothing the hospital staff have to wear. “This effectively removes the human element of nursing as the only personal contact is via the eyes. This is particularly striking because patients are not able to have any physical contact with their loved ones during this time.”

Alastair decided he wanted to support them in the best way he could, by raising money through a charity auction for Queen Alexandra Hospital and the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford, where Joshua was born and near where the auction house is based.

Local businesses and individuals have been swift to react to the call for pledges for Ewbank’s Rainbow Charity Auction.

“I have appealed for people to donate experiences rather than objects,” says Alastair, “because I also want to support businesses where possible to help them get back on their feet after all of this, and I think it would be nice for people in lockdown to have an outing to look forward to.”

Pledges so far include a hotel break, restaurant meals, a day of touring and tasting at Silent Pool Gin distillery, Indian food specialist Mandira’s Kitchen and Albury Vineyard, a tour of Dorking Brewery, another of Denbies Wine Estate and even a free MoT.

“We also have free tickets for the Guildford Flames ice hockey, signed football shirts from Fulham and Cardiff City Football clubs, as well as a selection of exclusive artworks and tickets for this year’s panto in Portsmouth,” says Alastair. “One of the best highlights is a painting donated by renowned artist Sherree Valentine Daines, from Leatherhead, who has exhibited at the Tate and is collected by the Royal Family.”

With a small baby at home, returning to work on the frontline was difficult, “but Caroline and her sister didn’t hesitate because they have a very strong sense of duty,” says Alastair. “Obviously, you worry when someone puts themselves in this position, but I couldn’t be prouder.”

Ewbank’s Rainbow Charity Auction, a timed online auction will run from Monday till the close of play on Friday, May 18.

All those who want to donate have to do is to email Alastair details of the pledge or a voucher at alastair@ewbankauctions.co.uk and these can be forwarded via emails to the successful bidders, who can then redeem them when lockdown comes to an end. All donations should be made by May 8.

The auction will be live on the Ewbank’s Auctions website and shared on all the company’s social media platforms and to their mailing list of 35,000. They will also credit any donations in the description. For those who would rather make a direct cash donation there will be online payment facilities.

There will be no selling or buying fees and the entire proceeds will be split 50/50 between the two hospitals.

www.ewbankauctions.co.uk