The restrictions brought about by the coronavirus pandemic can be particularly difficult for children.
It can be even more challenging for the children of key workers, whose parents are having to fit in their vital work around childcare and the demands of home schooling.
With that in mind, Stacey Keegan, Acting Chief Executive of The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH), has written an open letter to the children of all staff.
The letter expresses her thanks for letting the Oswestry-based hospital “borrow” their parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles to do their important work.
“Our staff are doing an amazing job, and we want their children to know that,” said Stacey. “Those children are coping with a lot right now, and we want to thank them for letting us ‘borrow’ the people closest to them to work in our hospital.
“If parents are at home more often, then we want to thank their children for being patient while their grown-ups hog the wifi, ask them to be quiet while they have lots of meetings and try to help with school work.
“We want them to know it is okay to be sad, angry, or even scared. It’s important to remember this won’t last forever and we will all get to spend time together with the people we love soon.”
The letter was made available to all staff at the hospital to download from the RJAH website and print to give to children in their household or in their wider family.