Glasgow wholesale firm supports NHS staff with supplies of food and drink

AN unlikely collaboration has seen a music industry tour manager and a Glasgow-based food and drink wholesaler join forces to deliver food and drink to frontline NHS staff across Scotland as they work through the Covid-19 crisis.

Ben Pomphrett, whose partner is an intensive care nurse currently working at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, has launched the group Help Our NHS after reaching out to colleagues working in the music industry to support staff through these difficult and unprecedented times.

Glasgow-based Mr Pomphrett, who has worked with performers including Liam Gallagher and Biffy Clyro, called Barbara Henderson, who owns and runs Lomond – The Wholesale Food Co, with her husband, Sam, to ask if the firm would be the “wheels” to deliver food to critical care units across Scotland.

He said: “Critical care nurses are now in full PPE and have limited time to prepare and eat on breaks, and often rely on snacks gifted by patients’ families. With those units now closed to visitors this is no longer happening.”

Mrs Henderson said: “Like other businesses during the coronavirus crisis we’ve had to adapt as our traditional ‘foodservice’ deliveries to outlets such as restaurants, sandwich bars and cafes has dropped off dramatically.

“As we already deliver to hospitals and have the infrastructure in place, we’re delighted to help.”

Short cut

The Herald business desk knows all about bad hair days so it’s music to our ears to hear that PR firm Scene & Herd, which works with rural businesses, has launched the Shear Isolation Lockdown Haircut Challenge to raise money for charities RHET (Royal Highland Education Trust) and RSABI, which supports people in Scottish agriculture, as well as The Trussell Trust.

Simply use scissors, clippers or shears to cut, shave or trim that hair. Take a video then post to social media using the hashtag #shearisolation, nominate three friends to do the same and donate a minimum of £3 to one of the charities at https://www.justgiving.com/team/shearisolation2