Children bring cheer to hospital patients on Christmas Day

A small boy dressed as an elf on a hospital ward

Three-year-old Samuel Kay and his friends visited patients on the Acute Medical Unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on Christmas Day

Four kind-hearted youngsters said they enjoyed giving gifts to hospital patients more than opening their own Christmas presents.

Jessica and Oliver Wiper and Joshua and Samuel Kay visited Blackpool Victoria Hospital on Christmas Day morning to meet patients and hand out presents.

Jessica, two years, Oliver, five years, Joshua, 10 years, and Samuel, three years, enjoyed it so much that they’re already planning to do the same next Christmas.

Oliver and Jessica’s mum Emma Wiper, and Joshua and Samuel’s mum, Leanne Kay, are both Ward Managers on the hospital’s Acute Medical Unit.

The Acute Medical Unit is the first point of entry for patients referred to hospital as emergencies by their GP and people requiring admission from the Emergency Department.

Emma said: “Our children said merry Christmas and chatted to the patients.

“They handed out stockings filled with toiletries and things like that. It was really lovely.

“The patients loved it – they thought it was fantastic.

“One patient, who was hundreds of miles away from his grandchildren, said it made his Christmas. He was over the moon.

“Leanne filled the stockings and we gave some chocolates to the staff.”

On Christmas Day the Acute Medical Unit cared for 34 patients and everyone received a stocking full of presents.

Emma added: “The Trust’s Medical Director, Dr Mark O’Donnell, was visiting the unit and Oliver went up to him and shook his hand.

“We were so proud of the children.”

Three young children in festive clothing

Oliver, 5, Joshua, 10 and Jessica, 2, on the Acute Medical Unit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A doctor meets a boy dressed as Santa

The Trust’s Medical Director Mark O’Donnell meets Oliver, 5, dressed as Santa on the Acute Medical Unit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two little boys with a Christmas stocking

Samuel, 3, and Joshua, 10, with one of the stockings they handed out to patients.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two little children next to a Christmas tree

Oliver, 5, as Santa and Jessica, 2, as an elf at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

 

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