About St Mary’s Barge
We’re raising funds to provide a Barge moored next to the Emergency Department at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, where staff can rest, recharge and return, ready to care for others.
St Mary’s Hospital is one of London’s four Major Trauma Centres yet it has the fewest staff welfare facilities due to its small, outdated site.
Every year, the Emergency Department treats more than 140,000 patients with about 160 staff on duty at all times, including nurses, doctors and ancillary staff.
The teams work day and night in an over-crowded environment managing relentless pressure, emotional distress and sometimes even aggression, while continuing to deliver compassionate, life saving care.
Caring for Carers Trust has planning permission to provide a 22m broad beam barge as a permanent mooring adjacent to the Emergency Department and open 24 hours a day.
The Barge will offer a calm, welcoming refuge for staff from the demands of the department, a place where they can pause, refresh and regain strength during challenging shifts. The space will include a communal lounge, kitchen/refreshment facilities and a quiet room for reflection.
This project is a powerful opportunity to give something back to NHS staff, and a visible, tangible commitment to their well-being, resilience and humanity, as they continue to support the community when it needs them most.