Rainbows on the road give Northamptonshire's NHS staff a lift on their way to work

NHS staff in Northamptonshire had a nice surprise when they got to work — a special 'thank you' from the county council and its highway service provider, KierWSP.

Road markings thanking the NHS and featuring a rainbow heart were painted on approach roads into Northamptonshire Health Foundation Trust sites across the county over the weekend.

Northampton's Berrywood Hospital and Cynthia Spencer Hospice, Corby Community Hospital, Danetre Hospital in Daventry, Wellingborough's Isebrook Hospital and St Mary’s Hospital in Kettering were among the sites getting the 'special treatment'.

NHFT's chief operating officer, Jean Knight, said, “What a fantastic surprise for our teams and services that are spread out all over the county.

"Team NHFT has continued to provide mental health and community-based services across Northamptonshire during the Covid-19 pandemic, so it is great to see this recognised with this lovely tribute to our staff.

"The support that we’ve received from the local community and other key workers has been brilliant and we will keep working hard to make a difference for the people of Northamptonshire.”

The county's highways team engaged the support of specialist road markers WJ Lining and traffic management contractor EM Pells to help them complete the artwork after putting down similar markings at Kettering General and Northampton General Hospitals last month.

NHFT delivers a comprehensive range of physical and mental health services in Northamptonshire and outside the county in own homes, through GP practices, clinics, schools, prisons and in residential and hospital environments.

More than 4,500 staff are part of team NHFT making it one of the county’s biggest employers.

The Care Quality Commission rated NHFT ‘outstanding’ overall in 2018 and 2019 and the trust was awarded the prestigious Health Service Journal’s Trust of the Year award in 2018.