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Jun 2021

Health

Harrogate porter's hands feature on new NHS coronavirus pin

Published: 27 Jun 2021, 11:00 BST

by Connor Creaghan

Faisal Yousaf was one of just six people selected to take part in the project, which raises funds for NHS charities.

Faisal ‘Faz’ Yousaf, a porter at Harrogate District Hospital.

A porter at Harrogate District Hospital has had his hands honoured as part of a new NHS pin to thank staff for their efforts during the pandemic.

Faisal Yousaf, known as Faz, is one of just six people who have taken part in the project to support NHS charities.

TMB Art Metal has developed an initial run of 5,000 of the special fundraising pins. A total of £10 from the sale of each £25 pin will go to NHS Charities Together.

The pins, which are cast in metal from a 1939 Spitfire that flew in the Battle of Britain, are available exclusively by clicking or tapping here.

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Colleagues of Faisal put him forward for the project. He was on the frontline in the emergency department and the admissions unit taking patients to and from the intensive care unit.

He works all around the hospital transporting patients, blood supply and equipment, as well collecting items from nearby villages and Leeds.

Faisal said:

"I feel overwhelmed to be a part of this project. I’ve been here for around two years, and to me, my colleagues are not colleagues but friends and family.

"I was seeing first-hand the doctors and nurses who’d been in full PPE for 12, 13 hours coming out of intensive care, their expressions, body language and the scars the equipment made.

"Then in the days and weeks that followed it became a really proud achievement to have all my colleagues around me and to be a part of that team."

Sammy Lambert, business development, charity and volunteer manager said:

“I am delighted that we are involved in such a monumental project. Faz is an incredible colleague and a real asset to #teamHDFT.

"All of our colleagues across the trust are so grateful to be part of such a lovely initiative to thank the NHS.

"I see first-hand the difference the monies raised through donations from projects such as this can make – thank you.”

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Harrogate porter's hands feature on new NHS coronavirus pin

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