Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s (LPT) charity, Raising Health, has today launched an appeal to buy a gift for all patients in their community and mental health hospitals this Christmas. It is hoped that the target of £2000 will ensure around 600 patients, expected to be in wards on Christmas day, can be given a small gift to raise their spirits.

Cathy Ellis, chair of LPT and chair of the Raising Health charity, said:

“Spending Christmas in a community hospital and mental health ward can be a very difficult time for our patients, especially those who do not receive many visitors.  We would therefore like to provide a gift to all our patients who are with us on Christmas Day to make the day that little bit more special.

“We are hoping that our Raising a Smile for Christmas campaign will tell our patients – ones with physical or mental health conditions – how much the public is thinking of them and lift their spirits.”

Each patient will receive a gift package.

Last year with the public’s help we provided gifts for more than 500 patients in our mental health wards, community hospitals, and our mental health inpatient unit for children and adolescents.

Our Youth Advisory Board (YAB) are supporting this Christmas appeal to ensure that young people in our outpatients service are also given presents this Christmas.

The presents will go to LPT inpatients at our community hospitals (Coalville, Hinckley, Loughborough, Market Harborough, Melton, Oakham); at Mill Lodge in Enderby (Huntington’s disease), at Stewart House in Enderby (severe and enduring mental illness);  and in the city at the Bradgate Unit (working age mental health), Beacon Centre (children and adolescent mental health), Bennion Centre (older age general mental health) and the Evington Centre (physical health and dementia), Agnes Unit (Learning Disability), The Willows (severe and enduring mental illness).

To make a donation, go to: www.raisinghealth.org.uk/christmasappeal