Former Sheffield student and Britain's best paid boss donates £10 million to NHS trust

Denise Coates, chief executive of betting giant Bet365, made the donation to University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) - the trust which covers Stoke-on-Trent, her home town.

She said her charity foundation "felt we had to step forward... to see what we could to do help" during the coronavirus crisis.

UHNM said it was "extremely grateful" and the money would support staff and patients "during Covid-19 and beyond".

The trust, which incorporates Royal Stoke Hospital and County Hospital in Stafford, said coronavirus had highlighted it was sometimes "lacking the technology" to work in the "most effective way".

Some money from the donation from the Denise Coates Foundation will invested in technology to improve communications between clinicians, patients and families, UHNM said.

Ms Coates said coronavirus presented "what must be the most demanding circumstances in the hospitals' and, indeed, the NHS's history".

Last year, the co-founder of the online gambling firm was paid a £277m salary plus dividends as the popularity of online gambling continues to grow.

The privately held company is owned jointly by Ms Coates and members of her direct family, including her brother John, who is joint chief executive, and her father Peter, the firm's chairman.

Ms Coates earned a first-class degree in econometrics - the application of statistical methods to economic data - from Sheffield University before joining the High Street betting firm, run by her father.

The mum of five is intensely private and little is known about her wealth and family life.

Bet365 employs around 3,000 people - including her own husband Richard Smith, who serves as group property director.

The pair met at Sheffield University, where she earned a first class degree in the 1980s.

The firm owns Stoke City Football Club and the betting outlet is perhaps best known for its distinctive TV advertising campaign starring actor Ray Winstone and screened during commercial breaks during live football matches.

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