Denise Coates Foundation donates £10m to NHS charity

Denise Coates, chief executive of bet365, has donated £10 million to the University Hospitals of North Midlands Charity through her foundation to support its response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The money will aid the delivery of a number of significant schemes that will enhance patient care and support staff at Royal Stoke Hospital and County Hospital, Stafford.

"We're extremely grateful to the Denise Coates Foundation for this significant grant to support our staff and patients during Covid-19 and beyond," said UHNM chief executive Tracy Bullock.

"As a result of the virus we have rapidly established new ways of working but in some circumstances are lacking the technology to do this in the most effective way. This investment will help fund schemes to improve communications between clinicians; between clinicians and patients and between patients and their families.

"Covid-19 is affecting our local communities and this investment will also be used for initiatives with our partners in the community, mental health and social care to support them to support us."

The foundation was set up in 2012 by Coates, who was awarded a CBE in the same year. It focuses on education and medical research.

"The foundation is committed to supporting the efforts of the UHNM as it, its staff and its wider community of carers and volunteers face what must be the most demanding circumstances in hospitals and, indeed, the history of the NHS. It and they stand on the front line in the battle against Covid-19," said Coates.

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