SUPERMARKETS are showing their support for NHS staff by offering priority services to help them get essential items.

Waitrose, which has a store in Churchill Way in Salisbury, has said it will be setting aside daily essentials for NHS staff.

Care packages are also being put together and delivered to NHS facilities by the supermarkets partners John Lewis.

On Twitter it said: "To our NHS Heroes. To help ensure you get all you need we've made changes in our Waitrose supermarkets.

"Daily essentials will be kept aside, just for you.

"Once you get to the checkout you'll have priority treatment.

"Our John Lewis Partners have also put together care packages that we will deliver to NHS facilities across the country."

Sainsbury's and Tesco have also implemented changes to help NHS workers.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday Sainsbury's supermarkets will dedicate 8am to 9am to serving elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers as well as NHS and social care workers.

A statement from the supermarket's CEO said: "From Monday 23rd March we are consolidating our opening hours and all our supermarkets will be open from 8am to 8pm Monday-Saturday. Sunday opening, Sainsbury's Local and petrol station hours will stay the same. This means we can focus our store colleagues' time on keeping shelves stocked and serving our customers well.

"Many of you have told us how much you appreciate the hour we set aside for elderly and vulnerable customers last Thursday, and that you would like this to become a regular event.

"Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday all our supermarkets will dedicate 8am to 9am to serving elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers as well as NHS and social care workers."

And every Sunday, all Tesco stores (except Express stores) will prioritise a browsing hour before checkouts open for NHS workers.