Published on: 9 December 2022
As Christmas approaches, the League of Friends at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have been busy preparing donations for patients using Derbyshire Healthcare’s services, including mental health, learning disabilities and children’s services.
The Trust’s League of Friends is a charitable organisation, run by volunteers, who plan to deliver chocolate boxes to various wards on 15 December along with a festive performance from carol singers.
Pauline Gregory, Chair of the Trust’s League of Friends helped to make these donations possible, and she said: “Gifts have been donated to inpatients around Christmas time by the League of Friends for many years now.
“It began when we realised that there would be patients who had no relatives and so would not receive any gifts for Christmas. The League decided that from then on, we will purchase, for all without exception, a small gift for Christmas.”
The numbers of gifts have varied over the years, with this year’s donation including a purchase of 234 chocolate boxes being given to patients on wards at the Trust’s hospital units in Derby and Chesterfield.
Carolyn Green, Interim Chief Executive at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re delighted to hear that our patients will receive some goodies ahead of Christmas to make their time with us a little more enjoyable.
“It is important that our patients are well cared for and this lovely donation should hopefully put a smile on people’s faces.
“The charity have worked with us over the years to help support the care we provide for our patients and it goes without saying that they are very much part of our hospital family, so as ever, thank you to the fantastic League of Friends for their generous donations.”
