A READING school student has donated more than 1,000 face masks to NHS staff battling the coronavirus (Covid-19) on the front line at Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH).

Sam Ou, a student from Reading School, donated 1200 masks to the RBH to help with the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff.

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He donated a further 200 masks to the School to assist those working with children of keyworkers and other staff undertaking duties there.

Sam Ou approached staff and said: “I would like to donate 1200 facemasks to the Royal Berkshire Hospital to help combat the lack of protective equipment available for the doctors and nurses, who work tirelessly around the clock to try to combat COVID-19.

“I want to do my part for the community and the small donation will help protect health workers working in such dangerous conditions.”

Mr Robson, Headmaster added: “One of our core values is ‘Community’ and it is most heartening to see our values in action through our pupils.

“We are most grateful for the inspirational support of Sam and his family.

“Thank you to Sam and his family, and indeed to all members of the Reading School family who are demonstrating compassion and commitment at this time of crisis.

“We all need to continue to pull together in these difficult times.”

Other efforts have been made by the community to support RBH staff during the pandemic.

A fundraiser was set up to raise money to buy boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables for staff at the hospital which raised £18,293.

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Furthermore, the John Sykes Foundation delivered 500 pens to RBH staff having been approached by the lead consultant of Reading's A&E and Covid-19 departments, Dr. Omar Nafousi.

Dr. Nafousi thanked the foundation for their donation.

He said: “They will be used, and remain, in our HOT (Covid-19) department, so staff don't have to use their own pens [from home].

“This will aid us, in further minimising, the risk of spreading the virus outside of our department.”