Christmas gifts wanted for Northampton General Hospital patients with no visitors

Northamptonshire Health Charity - who raises money for NHS hospitals in Northamptonshire - has launched their annual Chrismas present appeal.

This year, patients in hospital might not be allowed visitors on Christmas Day because of Covid restrictions and the charity wants to make sure patients each have a present to open.

Trish Ribano, service manager at Welland Centre for adult mental health said: “We are so grateful for your support at Christmas, it makes our day when all the gifts arrive for us to give out as it is so lovely to see the patient’s faces on Christmas day as this can be a very lonely and difficult time.”

Northamptonshire Health Charity supports your local hospitals, including Northampton General Hospital, and all the community and mental health hospitals in the county, including Berrywood, Isebrook, Corby and St Mary’s.

During the early stages of lockdown, the charity managed to fundraise £121,000 for food packages for the frontline staff and the teams of people who run Northamptonshire hospitals and they were inundated with their successful Amazon Wishlist when 15,305 parcels were donated online.

Last year, every inpatient received a gift bag containing items, which helped bring a smile to their face and remind them people are thinking about them.

Items that can be included are puzzle books, slippers and socks, toiletries, lip balms, dominoes for elderly patients, toys, games and activities for the children’s wards and for the short break centres in the county.

For infection control purposes only items that are new and in the original packaging can be accepted, preferably not gift wrapped, so they can be allocated appropriately.

It is understood by the charity that Christmas shopping will be affected by Covid-19, so there is an Amazon Wish List available here. All items purchased from the list will be delivered directly to the charity office at Northampton General Hospital. Alternatively, you can make a monetary donation and a gift will be purchased for you.

If you’d like to take part in the appeal you can donate items by dropping them in at the charity office at Springfield, Cliftonville, Northampton, NN1 5BE, Monday to Friday 9-4pm.

The charity offices are situated a short walk from A&E at the hospital, next door to the Urgent Treatment Centre, and items need to be in by Friday, December 18.