Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust, which runs King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton; Mansfield Community Hospital; and Newark Hospital, has worked with the community to ensure that its patients have an extra special Christmas this year.

Thanks to the generosity of the local community, Sherwood Forest Hospitals League of Friends has been able to provide presents for all patients in hospital on Christmas Day.

The chaplaincy service will also be providing some cheer to patients by singing carols at outdoor locations around the King’s Mill site on Christmas Eve at 7pm and at Newark Hospital the Salvation Army band will be playing outside the hospital.

On Christmas Day morning chaplains will be visiting wards and work areas.

On Christmas Day and Boxing Day the trust will be relaxing its visiting rules slightly and allowing two visitors for each patient for a two-hour period per day. This will be organised by the ward leader on each ward and visitors will need to arrange an agreed time slot so that the amount of visitors at any one time can be managed on each ward.

For younger patients on the paediatric ward, both parents will be allowed to visit on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Visiting the Emergency Department and Emergency Assessment Unit will remain the same – go alone unless you require a carer or are under 16.

Sherwood Forest Hospital Millside Radio team will be presenting a special Christmas Eve request show, from 6pm, for patients and staff. Submit festive music requests or dedications on 01623 737737 or via email studio@millsideradio.co.uk

Alongside this, patients will also have free access to the Hospedia television service up until the end of December, whilst also being able to access the free patient wi-fi to make video calls and keep in touch with loved ones.

Children from local schools have sent in snow globes and pictures that have been used to help brighten up wards throughout the hospital.

Chief nurse Julie Hogg said: “We know it’s going to be a difficult time for our patients who are in hospital over the festive season, so we are doing all we can to make it as festive as possible for them.

“It’s important to stay connected with family and friends during this time, so we are really encouraging people to take advantage of technology to stay in touch virtually as a way of keeping in touch with your loved ones and friends who are in hospital.

“We know this year has been really difficult for us all and we would like to say thank you to the public for continuing to follow our visiting restrictions and social distancing measures to help keep everyone safe.

“We know this year will not be the ‘normal’ Christmas for many, but we hope that the support we provide to our patients and their families will go some way to making their stay a little brighter this year. If you have any questions around visiting at Christmas please get in touch with the ward that your family member or friend is on to discuss this. Please do not turn up to the hospital on Christmas Day without prior arrangements, as we do not want you to have a wasted journey. Thank you for your understanding.”

To find out more about our visiting restrictions visit https://www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk/for-patients-visitors/visitors/ward-visiting-times/

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