A MACHYNLLETH businessman who broke his leg cycling last year has set up a fundraiser to thank nurses at Bronglais Hospital.

Father-of-three, Jon Andrews, broke his leg when mountain biking in December and was rushed to Bronglais Hospital by ambulance.

The businessman, who runs Smart Energy Systems in Machynlleth, spent a week in hospital after breaking both the bones in one leg and has decided to launch a campaign as a result to ‘give nurses a break’ and provide them with coffee on their breaks.

Jon said: “I am launching this appeal on JustGiving for donations to buy coffee machines that would ‘give our nurses a break’ with fresh coffee in their staff rooms at Bronglais Hospital.

“We’ve all seen news reports about the tremendous extra burden Covid-19 is placing on the shoulders of our NHS workers.

“But it wasn’t until I spent time in Ceredig ward at Bronglais Hospital in December that I experienced first-hand just what the hospital staff are really going through.

“For example, I learned that all new admissions must be treated as if they have Covid-19, no matter why they are there.

“So all those providing care must always be in uncomfortable PPE which makes their job even harder.

“Nurses and staff who haven’t contracted this deadly virus must work even harder than usual during their long, sometimes 12-hour, shifts to compensate for the staff who have been affected.

“The physical and emotional stress that they endure is relentless.

“In talking with the people who took such wonderful care of me, I learned that one of the things that helps to revive their spirits is their next coffee break.

“Pre-pandemic, getting a fresh coffee would have meant walking across the hospital to the canteen, taking a precious 10 minutes of their break.

“Now, to prevent circulation of staff between wards they are limited to instant coffee in their ward staff room. That’s where I got the idea to purchase a coffee machine, so they could have fresh coffee in their break.

“Unfortunately, a reliable coffee machine to cater for the volume required costs more than I can afford. But if everyone who reads this were to contribute even a small amount, I’m quite certain we could purchase this machine and another for the ICU ward — both kindly offered by the manufacturer at cost.

“Many of us are looking for ways to show our appreciation for the nursing staff who are there for us in difficult times.

“A fresh coffee in their break would give the nurses a much-needed boost, and would demonstrate our desire to support them during this pandemic… and in the coming years. Every pound will help to reach the goal to buy coffee machines for the nurses’ staff rooms in Bronglais Hospital.”

Jon, who lives in Friddgate with his with Amie and three children, is now back in work and hoping for the all-clear from doctors before getting back on the saddle.