Could you help us raise a smile for patients at Christmas?

We are aiming to buy a gift for all patients in our wards on Christmas Day.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s charity, Raising Health, is asking for financial donations towards our £2,000 target.

Cathy Ellis, chair of LPT and chair of the Raising Health charity, said: “No-one wants to be in a hospital bed on Christmas Day in a normal year, but with Covid-related restrictions on visiting this is an especially difficult time to be away from those closest to you.

“Some of our inpatients won’t get to see a loved one face-to-face throughout their stay.

“We are hoping this 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.”

Each patient will get a gift package consisting of toiletries, biscuits, a game and other treats.

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

In previous years, LPT has worked with AgeUK Leicestershire and University Hospitals of Leicester to deliver a gift to all over-65s in our wards. This relied on donations of actual presents, which have been ruled out this year to reduce the risk of transmitting the Covid-19 virus. We are being supported by both organisations for this year’s appeal to source and wrap the presents.

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/christmas