Ward staff have been wrapping presents for patients spending Christmas in hospital
Hospital ward staffs have been wrapping up plans to treat patients staying with them on Christmas Day.
Karen Draper, a Patient Support Worker, and the team on ward B3 at Queen's Medical Centre, have been buying and wrapping Christmas presents for those who have to be in hospital on the big day.
This year Karen bought and wrapped 45 presents for patients admitted to the acute admissions ward during Christmas, the presents will be handed out to those in beds on Christmas morning before breakfast, helping to bring a festive spirit to the ward.
She said: "I enjoy bringing a little bit of Christmas to the ward at this time of year, as we have patients who are not expecting to spend Christmas day in hospital - providing these small gifts is a nice thing to do."
The Acute Admissions ward at QMC is for patients who have come into hospital through the Emergency Department.
Karen said: "Acute Admissions is an extremely busy place where we see a new set of adult patients with different conditions pass through our doors, every 48 hours. I bought 45 presents for the 45 patient beds we have on ward B3 and the presents wrapped are items they can use to aid their time in hospital such as toiletry gift sets.
"I am so lucky that in my support role I am able to go out and include our patients in the festivities. Each year the feedback from patients and visitors on the ward is really positive and it is often the night shift staffs that are able to give out presents to patients, a nice way for staff to end their shift."
Abigail Charles, Ward sister said: "Being able to hand out the presents on the ward, brings a really nice atmosphere for patients and staff on these wards and the patients are often really surprised, but we enjoy giving these presents as much as they enjoying having them which is really nice."
Karen has been buying and wrapping Christmas presents for patients for a number of years thanks to Nottingham Hospitals Charity donations.
Nick Lawford, the charity's Fundraising Manager, said: "Nobody wants to be in hospital at Christmas time, so for many years Nottingham Hospitals Charity has ensured that those that do have to be in hospital over the festive period - both patients and staff - are guaranteed a bit of extra Christmas cheer. Thanks to our generous donors and fundraisers we are able to ensure that anyone in hospital on Christmas day is given a present and that staff working over the holiday period are able to celebrate with festive food."