Charity, Health & Lifestyle | Posted on December 12th, 2024 | return to news
Become a Secret Santa to Dorset hospitals this December
Patients in the Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch Hospitals will receive gifts funded by local donations.
If you love taking part in Secret Santa – or you’ve never done so – this is your opportunity.
Residents of Dorset and the surrounding areas have the opportunity to provide presents for patients spending the festive season in hospital by supporting the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity’s Christmas Appeal.
Christmas can be an emotional and lonely time for patients in hospital as they are separated from their families and loves ones and miss out on the magic of the festive season.
This year, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity wants to make a difference for these patients by giving them a specially curated gift box, filled with thoughtful treats and selfcare items. It’s a small gesture, but it will help brighten the day for the hundreds of people spending Christmas in the Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch Hospitals.
By donating £12 to the Christmas Appeal, supporters will help University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity bring a touch of Christmas magic to someone who truly needs it, showing them they’re not alone and are deeply cared for.
For some patients, especially those without family or friends who can visit, receiving this gift on Christmas Day can mean the world to them.
University Hospitals Dorset deputy sister ward for Poole Hospital’s Lulworth Ward, Cloe Bennett, said: “At our hospitals, we have a simple mission: to provide exceptional care and support to every patient, every day. This mission doesn’t stop over Christmas. We care for all kinds of patients – from elderly patients to young children, to new mothers with premature babies, to those recovering from a serious illness – all of whom should be at home enjoying the magic of Christmas.
“Christmas can be isolating and lonely for many, and while we do decorate our wards and serve festive meals, we need your help to bring joy to each patient with a Christmas present by their bedside.”
University Hospitals Dorset public fundraising officer, Amy Beauchamp, said: “As the holiday season approaches, we are reminded of the incredible spirit of our community – not just in Dorset but across the South Coast. Every contribution to the Christmas Appeal will help us ensure the care and support we share for one another continues to shine on those spending Christmas Day in one of our sites across University Hospitals Dorset.
“These gift boxes are a piece of Christmas spirit and that will hopefully serve as a heartfelt reminder to those in hospital that they are in our thoughts. They will make patients smile and encourage conversations, whether that’s with fellow patients, NHS staff or their families. Together, we have the power to make this happen!”
Each University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity Christmas Appeal gift box contains a mindful colouring book, two large toiletry sachets, tissues, two herbal teas and a Christmas-themed puzzle book. These gifts have been chosen to help patients have a more comfortable stay, uplift them and bring a smile to their faces.
Together, these gifts are more than just items – they are gestures of care and comfort that won’t go unnoticed.
The charity will also be able to create boxes suited to younger patients that can be filled with activity books, stickers and games.
Becoming a secret Santa is easy. With a small donation to the Christmas Appeal, community members can give the gift of joy and make this Christmas a little brighter for patients in University Hospitals Dorset. To find out more, visit https://www.uhdcharity.org/currentprojects/christmas-appeal/.
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