Donors play Santa to patients on the wards
Hospital staff have issued a thank you to people who supported their annual scheme to help patients through Christmas on the wards.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s annual Nightwear Before Christmas campaign sees patient who are in hospital over the festive period given new PJs and nighties.
The generosity of NHS supporters saw more than 500 items donated by individuals, community organisations, work places and other parts of the NHS.
They were distributed to patients on wards at South Tyneside District Hospital and Sunderland Royal Hospital on Christmas Eve.
The teams behind the effort, the Delirium and Dementia Outreach Team (DDOT) at Sunderland Royal Hospital and the Discharge Lounge at South Tyneside, say they were overjoyed with the support the scheme received this year.
Jessica Young, an elder life specialist practitioner based in the Alexandra Centre run by DDOT, said: “The response has been really great from so many people and we have had a lot of phone calls from people to tell us they’re dropping them off or that they’ve put them in our post box outside.
“It has been brilliant to see that we have had lots more donations made this year.”
She added: “Sometimes the patients like to wear their new nightclothes on Christmas Eve, sometimes they like to keep them to open on Christmas Day.
“It really helps bring out the festive atmosphere and the patients are really grateful as some come in to hospital with very little and don’t have loved ones to bring in these personal items.”
Paul Young, who manages the discharge lounge at South Tyneside District
Hospital, added: “We want to say thank you very much for the donations people have made to our annual appeal.
"The nightwear was gratefully received by patients on our wards over Christmas.”
Donations were made by people and staff from organisations including the Department or Work and Pensions, Ryhope Reminiscence Group, the Foundation of Light and many of the Trust’s own staff.
NHS colleagues working for the North East Ambulance Service and Fulwell and Concord Medical Practices have also been among those to drop in items.