Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has launched a campaign to ensure that no child wakes up in hospital without a present on Christmas morning.
Being in hospital over Christmas can be a very difficult and stressful time for a patient and their family. Staff on the children’s ward at Royal Preston Hospital try to create a festive atmosphere on the ward each year to try to provide some light relief to the children and their families.
The team decorate the ward each year with trees, paper chains and other decorations, and provide special activities for the children including visits from Santa Claus, pantomime characters and other special guests.
In recent years, the team have received many generous donations of gifts for children of primary school age. This year, they are short of gifts for babies and teenagers, and are kindly asking generous donors if they can help to cater for these age-groups.
Gifts could include anything from new soft toys, rattles, small blankets etc. for babies, or toiletries, colouring books, art activities etc. for teenagers.
Jo Connolly, Divisional Nursing Director for Children and Young People and Critical Care at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “For children especially, being in hospital at Christmas time can be an extremely stressful and upsetting time. We don’t want them to miss out on the festivities because they are in hospital so try to do as much as possible to create a nice, festive environment for them. It is absolutely amazing to see their smiles when they are receiving gifts, seeing our visitors such as Santa Claus, and enjoying the festive activities. We are short of gifts for babies and teenagers this year so would be extremely grateful if people would be able to donate these items, and help to put a smile on the children’s faces.”
If you are able to help out the children’s ward at Royal Preston Hospital, and would like to donate a gift then please drop off any items at the children’s outpatients department at Preston Hospital, or at the general outpatients department at Chorley Hospital and items will all be collated. Please leave a note with your contact details on so that you can be thanked for your kind donation.