Football: Chelsea open up hotel to healthcare staff

LONDON -- Chelsea will provide free accommodation to staff of Britain's National Health Service in a hotel at the club's Stamford Bridge stadium during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Premier League club's owner, Roman Abramovich, will fund the service that will allow medical professionals in London a chance to rest if they are unable to travel home or face long commutes.

The scheme will be put in place for two months, but could be extended if needed.

There have been 1,950 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 71 deaths in Britain.

"It was decided the best way Chelsea can assist the NHS is to provide accommodation for NHS staff. Mr Abramovich will be covering the costs of providing the accommodation," Chelsea said in a statement.

"Many of the medical staff will be working long shifts and may not be able to travel home or would otherwise have to make long commutes. Local accommodation helps maintain the health and well-being of these crucial personnel at this critical time."

Manchester United legend Gary Neville followed Chelsea's example, announcing the two hotels he co-owns will be opened to NHS staff in Manchester free of charge.

Neville's hotels will close to the public over the weekend before the 176 beds are opened up to hospital staff.

"It is at this moment in time the whole of our industry needs to show solidarity, not just for our staff in these uncertain times, but for the people who need the accommodation most in the coming months," Neville said.

"It is something we are delighted to have been able to come to an agreement with."

Chelsea do not know when they will next return to the pitch, with the Premier League suspended until at least April 4, although the date is set to be pushed back at a meeting of Premier League clubs on Thursday.

In the absence of any matches to entertain the public, Chelsea and Neville are latest from the football community to make an offer of community support at this time of crisis.

Liverpool players contributed to a £40,000 ($48,000) donation from the club to help keep local foodbanks running.

Aston Villa and Brighton were among the clubs to donate food prepared for last weekend's matches to homeless charities.

Agence France-Presse

Pinoy nurses in London hit by NHS budget cuts

LONDON -  For the past weeks, locals and hospital staff across London have been protesting against the austerity measures of the National Health Service (NHS).

NHS cuts include closing selected A&E wards and acute services, downgrading of hospitals, redundancies and downgrading of salaries. In 2011, more than 30,000 NHS workers lost their jobs.

"We're fighting this because we believe that there is money to be found to invest in local health service, so we don't have to suffer from these life threatening cuts," Carlo Nero, chair of Save Our Hospital Campaign, said.

Because of the cuts, some Pinoy nurses are facing salary downgrade while others are forced to re-apply for their posts.

"Sa unit namin kung sampu kaming band 6, dalawa lang ang kukunin or you will go through interview para ma -retain ninyo ang current position ninyo," said Bien del Mundo, an NHS nurse.

"Kung mada-down grade ako, ang suweldo ko liliit. Maapektuhan ang family ko back home sa Pilipinas kasi ang ipapadala  namin liliit," said another NHS nurse Lester Najera.

It may seem that the salary downgrade is better than redundancies but they feel the cuts came at the worst possible time.

"So siyempre napakalaking impact yun financially para sa pamilya mo. Paano yun ilang taon ka  sa current position mo tapos  bababa pa ang suweldo mo.  Di na rin kami makaka -cope up sa daily needs namin," del Mundo said.

This year, the NHS is hit with the longest budget freeze penned in to last until 2015, which means frozen salaries for Pinoy nurses in the coming years.

"Di na nga tumaas ang suweldo mo, ang mga presyo ng bilihin is not going any lower, pataas ng pataas- everything, housing and all. Halos wala ng matira sa iyo," NHS nurse Donna Prima-Negrito said.

"Nakakabigla rin para sa min kasi sa hirap ng buhay ngayon," Edwin Rebenque, medical worker at NHS, said.

The flatlining UK economy is taking a toll on Pinoy nurses. But they want to remain optimistic and hope for growth and recovery of the economy. They believe any further drastic austerity measures in the health services will send them and the NHS in the emergency unit.

source: abs-cbnnews.com