Solent NHS Trust launches ‘heart’ badges to thanks colleagues and community

NHS workers and individuals across Hampshire, who have been recognised for their unwavering commitment throughout COVID-19, are being awarded with a new accolade. Solent NHS Trust has created ‘heart’ badges as a token of thanks and recognition to colleagues and people from the community for their help and support during the pandemic. 

As a memento of these challenging times, the Trust is offering the badges to its colleagues so that they can wear it with pride, but also to give them the opportunity to nominate people in their community for supporting them.  This could be their child’s teacher, the postman, the person who works in their local shop or for someone who has given up their time to work voluntarily. 

Barry Jenkins, Security Officer at St. Mary’s Hospital in Portsmouth, has nominated his child’s nursery for the badges. He said: “My wife and I are both key workers and without the support and kindness of the staff at Dolls House Nursery in Drayton, we wouldn’t have been able to make the additional commitment that was needed during this time. Their flexibility enabled NHS colleagues like me to step up to the challenges presented by Covid-19.”

The badges have been designed with a rainbow pride of place - a symbol that has become synonymous with the COVID-19 pandemic; started by children, who weren’t able to attend school, placing pictures of rainbows in their window. And, the heart is a way of demonstrating a connection and people working together. 

Sue Harriman, Chief Executive of Solent NHS Trust, said: “There are so many stories of people going above and beyond in these incredibly difficult and unprecedented times, whilst balancing work and personal commitments. There are also many people who have supported those working in the NHS and who continue to help the NHS during COVID-19. 

“We wanted to offer these badges to our colleagues to say a huge thank you and to recognise the important contributions they have made during this period.  

“We’ve also asked people within the Trust to nominate those individuals in the community deserving of a badge who have really made the difference to them as a small token of our enormous thanks.” 

Over 600 colleagues have already requested the badge since it was launched last week, with colleagues already nominating their local household waste collectors, farmers and headteacher.