GARY NEVILLE revealed Ryan Giggs’ mum inspired the pair to transform their hotels into NHS staff sanctuaries in the fight against coronavirus.
The legendary United pair revealed last week that they would allow NHS workers to use both their hotels for free over the coming months – and have promised to protect all their staff.
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Gary Neville revealed Ryan Giggs’ mum played a part as they decided to open their hotels up for NHS staffCredit: Twitter
Lynne Giggs worked for the NHS for many years and spoke to various nurses about how her son and Neville could help out
And after appearing on BBC Breakfast on Monday morning, they said it was Lynne Giggs who played a major role in the decision.
Giggs’ mum spent many years working for the NHS, which is under immense pressure as Covid-19 sweeps across the nation, and after speaking to various nurses helped the Red Devils pair put together their plan.
Giggs and Neville had been trying to figure out the best way forward for three weeks with shareholder Peter Lim and his team based in Singapore also providing assistance on how best to help the community at this difficult time.
Neville said: “About three weeks ago we started planning what we were going to do with our hotels. One of our shareholders Peter Lim is Singaporean and him and his team were feeding to us how they were dealing with things quickly and decisively over there and beating the virus.
“Three weeks ago in England I don’t think we quite saw the dangers so we were getting good intelligence and speaking to Ryan’s mum who used to work in the NHS for many years – she was speaking to many nurses.
“We started to speak together about how we could be useful to the wider community and particularly the NHS, knowing they would need to isolate away from family members that were showing symptoms.
“We could see what was coming and a week ago we decided to open our hotels to medical professionals and NHS staff who would need it.”
GG Hospitality closed Manchester residences Hotel Football and the Stock Exchange this weekend, and opened up all 176 beds to NHS staff.
Hotel Football, opened in 2015, sits opposite Old Trafford while the Stock Exchange opened in November in the centre of Manchester.
Staff will continue to work in both hotels and have been promised that they will all keep their jobs and income.
There are already 35 NHS workers and medical professionals staying at the two hotels – but the pair expect that to go up to around 170 by the end of the week.
Asked how the practicalities work in terms of NHS staff booking rooms, the former United and England right-back added: “Believe it or not, it is through WhatsApp groups.
“The Manchester University National Health Service Foundation Trust have got a contact point and any NHS worker who needs accommodation – whether it be at 2am or 10am, it doesn’t matter – they contact a number.
“That number then pings through to our staff on reception and that member of the NHS or medical professional will be given access into the building and a room. It’s normally ten days they will be with us.”
Giggs insisted that there is no pressure on staff to come in if they do not want to and appreciated the support from the Government to help cover costs.
It is going to be a long fight… the landscape is changing so quickly. Hopefully we can get rid of this virus sooner rather than later.
Ryan Giggs
The Wales manager said: “We had to quite quickly protect our staff – by the way they are doing so voluntarily, it is up to them, we are not forcing them.
“We’ve had the help of the Government which has helped the hospitality business.
“It is going to be a long fight but we are trying to keep our staff busy and we will just have to see where we are, the landscape is changing so quickly. Hopefully we can get rid of this virus sooner rather than later.”
Unsurprisingly, the act was incredibly popular on social media – with some even calling for the duo to be knighted.
One tweeted: “Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs started planning for this 3 WEEKS AGO, with the help of Ryan’s Mum, who worked in @NHS. These lads have shown true leadership!”
Another said: “Gary Neville & Ryan Giggs, you are both legends! Just seen you’re offering free hotel rooms to NHS workers in Manchester & keeping your staff employed. They deserve a knighthood when this is over!”
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A third added: “Some good news for all of us. Kindness and people taking positive actions. Fair play to Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs opening up their two MCR hotels to NHS workers.
“Leadership on and off the pitch and the type of business leaders that the world needs more of.”
And a final user wrote: “Got to give it to Giggs and Neville giving NHS staff free beds at their hotels. Your legendary status has gone up a notch or 2. Thanks guys.”
There are already 20 NHS staff staying at Hotel Football and 15 at Stock Exchange but many more are expected this weekCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Plenty of users on Twitter praised the pair for their generosity during the difficult time for the nation and NHS
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
