The Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead

A HARDSHIP fund, therapy sessions, low-cost food hubs and a “pre-loved” clothes swap shop are being set up to help hard working NHS workers struggling to make ends meet.

Hospital chiefs at the Royal Free in  Hampstead yesterday (Wednesday) agreed a range of measures following savage energy bill and food price rises.

Brent Cross John Lewis has agreed to donate last season’s stock to the hospital swap shops while the London Credit Capital and Citizens Advice is moving into the Pond Street hospital two days a week.

It come as another gruelling winter of chaos approaches for Camden’s NHS who are still recovering from the gruelling shifts pandemic.

“It is important to be mindful that the real need is likely to be an increase in pay,” Paul Suku, assistant director of People, said in a report to the board yesterday.

At the Royal Free, a Cost of Living (CoL) working group has been set up to help because of what the trust described as “a considerable risk going forwards as regards to anxiety and other lifestyle impacts”.

The hospital has set up a hardship fund of £60,000 with a maximum of £500 per application, and the trust is already considering bids from staff.

A Royal Free spokeswoman said: “We are doing all we can to provide help and guidance to colleagues who may need additional support over the coming months.”