Marie Curie charity needs urgent help to meet Coronavirus patients surge

It is asking generous Fife residents to help national efforts to raise the £250,000 per week it needs to run essential frontline services in Scotland – at a time when fundraising efforts have been hit hard by the pandemic.

Shops have closed and normal springtime fundraising efforts have been critically undermined by the virus threat in public places.

A spokesperson said: “Now more than ever, dying people who do not want to be in hospital need to be moved to a more appropriate setting, as precious beds in critical care units are urgently required for patients who need lifesaving treatment for Coronavirus. 

“Marie Curie can help, but only if it continues to raise the donations it needs to fund its vital work”.

Debbie Mooney, the charity’s head of fundraising in Scotland, said: “This is a stark warning that Marie Curie desperately needs more donations if it is to continue caring for dying people and help the NHS cope with the Coronavirus crisis.  

“We need the public to rally around our hospices and nurses now and give whatever they can. It has never been more critical.”

 Chief Executive Matthew Reed said: “At this time of national emergency, Marie Curie Nurses and frontline staff are needed more than ever as the NHS is put under ever greater strain. We’re ready and geared up to help, with hospice beds and nurses on standby.      

“Sadly, some people’s lives will be shortened by Coronavirus, so the need for end of life care will be greater. 

“Marie Curie can meet this need, and in doing so will help free up intensive care beds needed for Coronavirus patients.  

“But just as we want to help, our income has been decimated.  We need donations urgently to keep our Nurses and Hospice staff on the frontline”.

Donations can be made online at mariecurie.org.uk/emergency

You can also text NURSE to 70633 to help the charities reach the families who need its support.

Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message, and 98 per centis received by Marie Curie.

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