Santa brings cheer to hospital
SANTA and his favourite elf Rudey took time out from last-minute Christmas preparations in the North Pole to bring some cheer to the children in St. Gabriel’s paediatric ward and outpatents clinc in Wexford General Hospital.
The children’s ward was abuzz with excitement when the festive duo burst in with a big sack of presents and went from bed to bed handing out gifts and chatting and joking with the young patients from all over County Wexford.
Even the doctors and nurses joined in the fun, taking time out from their busy rounds to share a laugh and talk to Santa.
Santa made sure to bring lots of presents and left some behind for children who missed out or who may be admitted to hospital during Christmas week.
The special visit was sponsored by Wexford Lions Club which paid all of Santa’s expenses from their annual Christmas collection. This is the second year that the club has asked him to interrupt his busy schedule to go to the hospital and President Dan Redmond went along to show him the way.
‘Everyone had great fun,’ said Rosemary Hayes of the Lions Club. ‘Some of the older children were snapchatting photos of themselves with Santa.
The club has a busy time at Christmas organising supermarket food appeals and raffles and selling hand-knitted elf socks filled with chocolates to help needy local families and the homeless.