Croyland Comes to the Rescue of Stranded Key Worker

When a Northants hospital worker was left stranded during the Covid-19 crisis Croyland Care Megastore stepped in to help keep the midwife mobile.

Albie Scott-Roberts, who works as a midwife at Northampton General Hospital, was left struggling to get to work after she was unable to retrieve her own car undergoing repairs at a Northampton garage, which closed suddenly when lockdown measures were introduced.

With no access to her own vehicle the key worker had to rely on trying to catch buses to and from the hospital from her home in Duston, Northampton often adding hours onto a difficult daily commute compounded by the fact that she suffers from a foot injury following a motorbike accident.

On hearing of her plight, highlighted by BBC Radio Northampton, Croyland immediately offered to help by providing the NHS worker with a vehicle. Croyland has loaned Albie an automatic car which is the only type of vehicle she is able to drive while she awaits an operation on her foot, which has been currently cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis.

A grateful Albie explained how Croyland’s gesture has had a huge impact on daily life helping with her return to clinical work and eliminating the need to rely on public transport.

She said: “It is so amazing that Croyland offered to help me. I hadn’t been able to get anywhere and was relying on buses and after a hospital shift I could be waiting up to three hours for the next bus. I cannot thank Mark and his team at Croyland enough, it’s been brilliant and given me a real boost. It is the most kindest and generous gesture that’s really helped me so much.”

Working on the healthcare frontline during the current COVID-19 crisis takes its toll and Albie said being mobile again has had a positive effect on her life in many ways.

Albie added: “I can now do things such as shopping and get to the 7.30am for NHS workers slot in the morning. I have also been able to visit my horse Flash again which has been my stress relief from work where everything is changing all the time as everything is so unprecedented.

“Being able to get in a car and get to work, go shopping and see my horse has really helped. The simple fact of having mobility again has made such a difference. It’s the fact that someone out of the blue, out of the goodness of their heart has done such an amazing thing and that act of kindness has helped me in so many different areas.”

Mark Swindells, General Manager at Croyland Car Megastore, said: “When BBC Radio Northampton contacted us looking for an automatic car for Albie we didn’t hesitate to help.

“In these challenging times it is vitally important we do all we can to support our community heroes, like Albie and all the key workers who do such important work every day.”

Albie’s mum Brenda Roberts initially contacted the radio station about her daughter’s dilemma and was delighted when Croyland could provide a car until Albie’s own vehicle is returned to her.

Brenda added: “When I heard Croyland could provide an automatic car for Albie I was crying, it was such a wonderful thing to do, such a lovely gesture. Albie was over the moon and I am so grateful to Mark, he has just changed somebody’s life and I can’t thank him enough for what he has done.”

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