On Christmas Day over 1200 people are expected to be in hospitals across Liverpool.
Many of these people will have no visitors on the day or over the festive period at all, the majority being the elderly.
Yet one charity is on a mission to ensure that all of them experience a little Christmas cheer. University Hospitals of Liverpool Charity will hand a present to all in-patients across the city. These ‘Gifts of Joy’ will include colouring books and pens puzzles, teddies or self care kits.
Lisa Barber, charity project coordinator said: “We’re all probably very lucky to have our family around us or close friends that we can spend Christmas day with but there is an awful lot of older people who are long stay patients.
“So it’s lovely from a charitable point of view that we can spread that little bit of happiness at Christmas time because I could imagine its probably quite bleak if you’ve say, got dementia or are scared for your future. Its just that small glimmer of happiness.”
Despite being limited in numbers, clinical staff working at the hospital on Christmas Day also try to make it as happy as possible, some dress up as Father Christmas and sometimes they do tea parties.
The gifts are bought by the charity with donations that are given by past patients, larger trusts and other fundraisers. Every week running up to Christmas, choirs sing in the hospital with volunteers collecting money for the charity.
Nicole Mcilveen, the partnerships funding manager, said: “People will come to us and want to support us or give back because they have been cared for by our teams.
“We appeal so widely, which is brilliant.”
Dunelm have also partnered with the charity, giving gift tags for Lisa and Nicole to write gift ideas on which have been bought for the patients.
On top of the people who stay overnight in hospital are dialysis patients who build a strong relationship with their doctors and nurses, some over many years of treatment, and are able to be bought more specific and personal gifts.
The gifts are given in Aintree, Broadgreen and the Royal Liverpool hospitals.
