Walsall Healthcare staff are being given an opportunity to lay a stone representing remembrance, reflection or positivity at a small, local event this week as they continue to work through the COVID-19 period.

An area will be created in the middle of the traffic island outside Walsall Manor Hospital’s Emergency Department and Chief Executive Richard Beeken and Interim Director of Nursing Ann-Marie Riley will each lay the first stones and say a few words on Wednesday 27 May at 1pm.

To ensure social distancing, each ward/department/service has been asked to nominate just one member of staff to lay a stone as part of this which will avoid a large gathering. These colleagues will lay their stones following Richard and Ann-Marie and the official ceremony will then finish.

Following this, between 2pm and 3.30pm that afternoon, other colleagues will be able to lay their personal stones being mindful of social distancing. The stones will eventually become part of a permanent feature at the hospital once the trust is able to engage with colleagues and consider the most appropriate way to do this.

Matron Anna Harding who came up with the idea after talking to staff said: “While we’re by no means out the other side of the pandemic yet staff have said they want to do something to either remember lost loved ones or to boost the morale of our teams who continue to work so hard to support patients, families and each other at this time.

“We must make sure we keep each other safe and observe the two metre social distancing rule which is why we are trying to avoid a large gathering and encouraging representatives rather than whole teams. Colleagues can lay stones later on that afternoon too and this will give us an opportunity to pause and reflect on a period that has impacted us all in one way or another.”