Patients spending Christmas Day in Leicester’s Hospitals will receive festive cheer in the form of a present given to them on behalf of Leicester Hospitals Charity.

As Leicester’s Hospitals have been unable to accept offers of gifts from the public and local businesses due to infection prevention measures necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic, funding from Leicester Hospitals Charity has enabled hospital staff and volunteers to give every patient on every ward a present on Christmas Day.

Each present will include a special gift tag featuring a Christmas design drawn by children from across Leicestershire.

Leicester Hospitals Charity’s Head of Fundraising, Claire Campbell, says the charity are proud to help gift presents to patients this Christmas.

“With all the challenges this year has presented, it’s more important than ever that we do something to try and bring some Christmas cheer to everyone in our hospitals who will be unable to spend Christmas at home or with loved ones,” says Claire.

“Every patient in our hospitals deserves to share in the joy of the festive season and that’s why, as the official charity for Leicester’s Hospitals, we’re proud to say that we’re making sure that every single patient in every ward on Christmas Day will receive a present given to them by our wonderful hospital staff.”

Leicester’s Hospitals’ Play Coordinator, Sally Shepherd – whose team will be distributing presents on Christmas Day – says everyone involved is looking forward to gifting the presents to patients next week.

“As play specialists, being able to help put smiles on faces of children and young people in our hospitals is always such a rewarding part of what we do,” says Sally.

“It’s a real shame this year that we’re not able to accept the hundreds of offers of gifts and presents that we would normally receive each Christmas, but that’s why it’s so wonderful to see Leicester Hospitals Charity step in to help make sure that no one will miss out this year. It will be a privilege for all of our team to make sure that the children and young people receives a gift from our wonderful team of play specialists on Christmas morning.”

Beyond the gifts for patients, the charity will also be rewarding hardworking staff and volunteers by providing a free meal for every staff member on Christmas Day, in the form of a goody bag of festive food and treats; made possible thanks to donations to the charity by generous local supporters, and the efforts of our Estates and Facilities team.

Anyone who wishes to support the work of Leicester Hospitals Charity during the festive season can still make a gift to the Christmas Campaign to help purchase a much-needed new ventilator to support critically ill children in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.

To learn more about the charity’s Christmas Campaign and to donate, visit LHCharity.org.uk/christmas.