Bournemouth Hospital Charity and Poole Hospital Charity are funding the seasonal extras as visitors will be restricted onto wards at University Hospitals Dorset this Christmas.

Patients will be allowed up to two visitors from the same household for one hour on Christmas day, by appointment only. Both charities recognised the difficulties of the restrictions on visitors this Christmas and wanted to help patients feel as festive as possible.

Free television is being provided for patients for seven days between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day – Christmas Day is already free. This service is being funded through a second wave grant received from NHS Charities Together. Freeview channels will also be activated at the sites for additional entertainment during these difficult times. Premium content channels can still be purchased by patients as required on top of the free upgraded service.

Because of the pandemic, there are no Christmas decorations on the wards due to increased infection control measures. Instead, to help create a festive atmosphere, festive window decals for the wards have been funded.

Acting head of charity, Debbie Anderson, said, “We are so pleased to be able to provide patients with a bit of festive cheer, especially with the current restrictions on visitors to our hospitals. It’s so important that we do what we can to improve our patients’ stays and this includes making small changes to the wards and their bedsides to help them feel more comfortable.

“We are grateful to have received funding from NHS Charities Together on top of all the wonderful fundraising from our supporters during this pandemic. Donations and grants help us fund additional extras, such as these, that really do make a difference to our patients and staff. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone that has supported us during 2020.”

To help support the hospitals during the festive season and into the New Year, you can make a donation at BHCharity.org/donations or poolehospitalcharity.co.uk/how-to-donate/