Benches donated to staff at Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath

Burgess Hill Town Council and Burgess Hill District Lions Club jointly funded one bench and the Lions purchased the second.

The benches have been installed by the town council’s maintenance team in the hospital grounds.

They were sourced to be environmentally-friendly as they are made from recycled plastic and require minimal ongoing maintenance.

Ken Saunders, president of Burgess Hill District Lions Club, said: “The Lions club were keen to make funds available at the very outset of the pandemic to support our local communities, and are delighted to have had the opportunity to mark the significant contribution made by our wonderful NHS staff during the difficult times.”

Burgess Hill mayor Roger Cartwright added: “It will take some time after the end of this terrible outbreak for us to fully appreciate all the extraordinary work that has been done to protect and support our community.

“Meanwhile, this is a token of the gratitude that we all feel, in particular for the medical and carer teams who did their duty and much more regardless of any risk to themselves.”

Sarah Tasker, director of the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Charity, said: “The staff at the Princess Royal Hospital are so grateful to Burgess Hill District Lions Club and Burgess Hill Town Council. They appreciate being provided with a place to rest outside while taking much needed breaks from long hours in PPE.”

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