The University of Bath is providing the Royal United Hospital (RUH) with free city-centre accommodation for NHS staff who need to isolate from their families or stay close to their workplace.
Photo © University of Bath
RUH workers will be able to access 62 individual en-suite rooms in the John Wood Building, a University building on Avon Street that normally houses undergraduate students.
A further four flats of mixed accommodation in the building will also be made available.
The accommodation is being made available to RUH staff who need to isolate themselves from their families, particularly vulnerable members of their household, or those who normally face a long commute into work.
The building is less than two miles away from the RUH, and a short walk from a large supermarket and other essential amenities.
Launderette facilities will be available free of charge for RUH staff staying in the rooms.
Professor Ian White, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bath, commented: “It is very important that, during this time of crisis, we all pull together as a community.
“I am humbled by the heroic efforts of NHS workers to fight Covid-19 and save lives. As a University, we stand ready to support the RUH and their staff, and we hope it helps to ease some of the strain they are under.
Photo © University of Bath
“I’m most grateful all our staff from Accommodation and hospitality service (Ahs) and other teams who have all worked so hard to make it possible to share our resources in this way.”
Claire Radley, Director for People at RUH Bath NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is a fantastic gesture from the University of Bath and something that will be of great help to our hard-working staff – those working on the frontline and key support staff too.
“We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from the University of Bath and from throughout the local community.”
In another move to support the RUH in its fight against COVID-19, an engineering team from the University of Bath has made more than 5,500 face shields for hospital staff.
The team used materials donated by local businesses and the community. Acetate left over from this project is now being used by the team to produce eye protectors for GPs – 700 sets of which have already been sent to practices around Bath.
You can find the latest coronavirus information, advice and community updates for the Bath & North East Somerset area on our dedicated live blog here.
