Nobody wants to be in hospital over Christmas but sadly that will be a reality for some people this year. Being away from your loved ones is never easy, but it’s especially hard at Christmas. Our staff will do all they can to make it as special as it can be for our patients. From decorations on the wards to festive food, free parking and more flexible visiting hours.
On Christmas Day last year, 597 people were staying as an inpatient at one of our three hospitals, 6 babies were born and 242 people turned up at A&E for urgent and emergency treatment. New Year’s Eve was even busier with 929 inpatients, 10 babies born and 376 people seeking treatment at A&E.
For those patients who are staying in hospital over the festive period this year they’ll be offered a traditional roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings on Christmas Day, pork loin on Boxing Day and roast chicken on New Year’s Day. A wide range of special diets and nutritional needs will also be catered for.
Thanks to our bedside TV provider, our hospital charity The Health Tree Foundation and the Grimsby League of Friends, patients will be able to access free TV for the whole festive period: from Christmas Day through to New Year’s Day.
We’re offering additional visiting hours over the festive period too. From Christmas Eve to the 28 December and from New Year’s Eve to 2 January people will be able to visit their loved ones from 10.30am to 11.30am in addition to the usual visiting hours of 2-4pm and 6-8pm. For those who are visiting their loved ones on Christmas Day they’ll also be able to park for free.
Despite the festivities it’s business as usual for many of our staff. More than a thousand of them will be working on Christmas Day caring for patients and keeping services running. From clinical staff including doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to non-clinical staff including porters, catering staff, switchboard operators, laboratory staff, security guards and those working in the linen room. Community nurses and therapists will also be providing essential care out in the community, in people’s own homes.
Peter Reading, Chief Executive, said: “I’d like to thank all of our staff for their incredible efforts over what has been an exceptionally busy year; they really do give their all to provide a good service to our patients. A special thank you goes to those who will be working over the festive period, and especially those who will be giving up time with their own families on Christmas Day to look after our patients.”
