Gifts appeal to cheer hospital patients

KIND-HEARTED folk are being called on to donate gifts to help bring Christmas cheer to poorly patients in hospital.

The fifth Making Christmas Special campaign has been launched by staff at Leicester’s Hospitals, Age UK and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT).

The aim is to provide a goodie bag to older people who are too ill to leave hospital over the festive period.

Last year people showed their amazing generosity by donating more than 1,300 gifts. The campaign was so successful that donated gifts exceeded the need in Leicester’s Hospitals and could be shared with some community hospitals.

This year, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust has joined the campaign, through which it aims to send gifts to all community hospitals and ensure that every older patient receives a gift.

Julie Smith, chief nurse for Leicester’s Hospitals, said: “Receiving a small gift on Christmas Day really means a lot to our patients. It is great to see their smiles when our nurses hand out the presents and we would be delighted if the local community could help us to Make Christmas Special again this year for our older patients who are too unwell to be at home with loved ones.”

Donations can be dropped into Age UK offices or shops across Hinckley and Bosworth. For more details and information on suitable gifts to donate visit the websites of the three participating organisations.