Surrey Hospital Staff Celebrated at Appreciation Event
Staff at the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford were treated to 2,500 hot meals in recognition of the care and dedication they bring to their work every day, with charity the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) providing the catering as a gesture of community appreciation.
A leading NHS trust serving Surrey and beyond, the Royal Surrey provides acute, specialist and diagnostic services to thousands of patients every year. Behind every appointment, ward round and emergency response is a workforce that gives enormously, often without the recognition they deserve. The day was an opportunity to change that, bringing staff together for a moment of celebration and acknowledgement.
53 RRT volunteers set up on site to serve hot burger meals to staff throughout the event, offering a chance to pause and feel appreciated by the community they work so hard to serve.
The event is part of RRT’s wider commitment to recognising NHS and healthcare workers across the UK, a commitment that has seen volunteers support International Nurses Day events, A&E Appreciation Week, and regular welfare visits at hospitals nationwide.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the Rapid Relief team and would like to thank all of the volunteers who took the time to support our colleagues by providing such a delicious lunch. Our staff work tirelessly every day and gestures like this mean so much. The kindness and appreciation shown through events like these are every bit as valuable as the meal itself.”
Tom White
Chief People Officer at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
"The team at the Royal Surrey Hospital work incredibly hard, day in and day out, to look after people in some of the most difficult moments of their lives. It was our honour to be here today and say a heartfelt thank you — to serve a hot meal is a small gesture, but we hope it reminded every member of staff just how valued they are by the community they serve so well."
Rowan James
RRT Local Team Leader
The Rapid Relief Team is made up of volunteers from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, who have been putting compassion into action since 2013. With over a decade of experience supporting NHS staff, healthcare workers, and the communities they serve across the UK, RRT volunteers show up wherever they are needed with practical care and a commitment to serving others.
