Kind-hearted Ripley Hospital staff and volunteers make it a Christmas to remember
Ripley Hospital’s kind-hearted staff and volunteers have organised festive activities to cheer up patients and hospital visitors in the run-up to Christmas.
And a charity appeal organised by Ripley Hospital-based physiotherapy assistant Kaye Rice has received an overwhelming response in aid of local charities for the homeless.
In this season of goodwill, Ripley’s dedicated NHS staff team and the stalwart efforts of hospital volunteer group Ripley Hospital League of Friends, are helping to spread Christmas cheer.
Butterley Ward’s occupational therapy team found novel ways to involve patients in Christmas activities. Occupational therapist Harriet Jackson and occupational therapy technical instructor Jane Woolley practised getting creative with craft material to conjure up some cuddly reindeer in readiness for activity sessions with patients on the ward.
Hospital staff, patients and visitors are also being invited to add a card to the League of Friends’ Tree of Memories during the festive period, in memory of a loved one. Money from the sale of the cards helps fund the league’s work on behalf of the hospital.
Healthcare assistants Linda Hill and Hannah Rodgers from the hospital’s outpatient department, have given their time to help with the winter tableau artwork, together with a real community effort on the rest of the festive decorations in the hospital’s main reception and waiting area.
This year, because of the building work underway to create a brand new phlebotomy department, generously funded by the League of Friends, there isn’t space for a real 3-Christmas tree in the reception area so a creative mural Christmas tree is taking its place on the wooden boarding separating off the building work.
Su Noonan, Ripley Hospital’s site coordinator, said: “The plain boarding has now been transformed with the help of local nursery and school children, guides, patients, staff and volunteers into a wonderful virtual tree of memories. Templates of Christmas trees, baubles and candy canes were coloured and decorated with glitter, string, buttons, paint and great enthusiasm.
“We were very fortunate to have the help of staff members Linda and Hannah, who gave up their time to create a winter tableau. With grateful thanks to everybody who helped to make our Tree of Memories take shape this year.”
When physiotherapy assistant Kaye Rice, based on Butterley Ward, put up a notice to say she was collecting warm clothing, toys, bedding and other essential items for local homeless people for Christmas she had no idea how it would be taken to heart within the hospital community!
Within a few days her collection boxes were overflowing with good quality donated items and the gifted items continued to pour in. These have been distributed to three local charities, the Padley Homeless Centre and Hope Centre, both in Derby, and the local branch of the Salvation Army.
Kaye, who has worked at Ripley Hospital for six years, said: “I just thought it is so sad for people to be on the streets or in need, especially at Christmas, and there has been a really overwhelming response from everyone to the appeal in the hospital.
“The donations for the Salvation Army included children’s books, toys and games. The items for the homeless charities were more about warm clothing and bedding. We also collected toiletries, non-perishable food and hair accessories. I’d hope we can do the same next year – it did seem to capture people’s attention and generosity.”
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