Preston restaurant's free food gesture to frontline medics

The Silk Route Indian restaurant, Strand Road, says it is only too happy to support the medics as they put in the long hours.

The restaurant, which is jointly owned by Ali Enayet and his wife Lisa Rumena and Faruk Malek, has delivered mouth-watering dishes to Royal Preston Hospital and beyond.

Ali said: "We sent some to the critical care unit (CCU) at Royal Preston Hospital on Thursday and to the paramedics in Preston."

The likes of curries, including vegetable, and lamb mince, chicken tikka, rice and naan bread whisked their way to staff at the critical care unit.

"They were so pleased," said Ali.

"They posted how pleased they were to have food while they were working - we were so happy they enjoyed it."

Ali said he was unsure if any similar deliveries would be made tonight, but that others were definitely planned in the days ahead.

These include deliveries to a ward on Monday, and the CCU again probably tomorrow or Monday.

"We're getting people asking for food from the hospital," said Ali, who explained that the Silk Route had been open for about six years.

And he said it was a pleasure for the restaurant to be doing its bit for the heal workers during the crisis,

"Definitely . . . helping them while they're working these long hours.

"Whether they eat it at hospital, or if there's any left, take it home, we don't mind. It's the least we can do for the frontline workers

Just yesterday, a critical care nurse appealed to people to stop panic buying after she was unable to find basic food items in her supermarket following a 48-hour shift.

She urged people to remember that NHS staff like her are the ones looking after patients and need food to stay healthy.

Ali said the restaurant was happy to prepare orders for local hospitals as staff battle the crisis.