AS the Southport community has been shaken by a recent series of terrible events, the charity Rapid Relief Team (RRT) has mobilised in support of staff at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust by serving doughnuts, cake, and coffee to show appreciation for 1st responders' hard work.

After offering immediate treatment to the victims of the stabbing, Doctors and Nurses at the NHS Trust have also treated those impacted by the violent demonstrations, in what has been described as an extremely difficult week by the staff, with the events taking a great emotional toll on first responders and frontline workers.

In response, ten volunteers from RRT served 60 dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts, 700 slices of cake and a selection of hot and cold drinks to 500 staff members at Southport Hospital and 200 from Ormskirk Hospital.

RRT, which is made up of volunteers from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, is dedicated to putting compassion into action by offering practical support to charities, emergency services and other organisations on the frontline.

Ian Thewlis, RRT Local Team Leader, said:- “It was a true privilege to be asked by the hospitals in Southport and Ormskirk to step in and provide some comfort to their staff following the traumatic developments of last week. Many of the Doctors and Nurses witnessed some harrowing events, so it was an honour to be able to put compassion into action and help lift spirits by providing cake and hot coffee. At RRT, we believe in strong communities, and in the past week, 1st responders and NHS staff have especially proven how essential they are to our wellbeing. We want to thank them for their incredible endurance in the face of such horrible events and let them know that they are in our thoughts.”

Lynn Barnes, Acting Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Governance at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said:- "I want to say a big thank you to RRT who really stepped up in support of our staff, showing them kindness and compassion with a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. We are extremely grateful for their support during such challenging times, when a little bit of thought can go a very long way. Our staff, who are also members of our community, have had a very difficult time, so it was great to see charities and volunteers mobilising to show solidarity with our efforts to treat people impacted by the events."