Christmas in hospital can be a difficult and lonely time, but thanks to the support of Fife Health Charity, staff are able to bring much-needed festive cheer and comfort to patients.
On Christmas Day, the charity funds a mix of gifts and treats designed to bring a smile to patients' faces, though tears have also been witnessed in the past, such as when an elderly male patient in Hollyview Ward, Stratheden received his unexpected gift. This is the joy a small, thoughtful gift can bring, explains Senior Charge Nurse Kayleigh Beveridge, ‘It’s as nice for us to give these gifts as it is for the patients to receive them.’
Gifts are often personal and thoughtful, ranging from toiletries, slippers, beauty products, and books to perennial seasonal favourites like toiletries and chocolates. Staff have also been known to go undercover, acting as detectives, to learn about patients' needs and interests to make each gift a personal surprise. Beyond these individual presents, which every patient receives on Christmas morning, the charity funds festive activities that transform the wards for the day. These include Christmas parties for patients, their relatives, and staff, complete with music, games, and an abundance of cheer.
Wards also provide traditional Christmas crackers and party food to make Christmas Day meals more enjoyable, and make sure wards are brightened with decorations and even Christmas trees. All of this is essential to boost morale and make sure that patients, especially those without family or friends nearby, feel remembered and cherished during the holiday season.
Fife Health Charity Christmas Appeal
Help us bring joy and smiles this Christmas by donating today. Your gift will help us purchase presents and fund festive activities, allowing hospital patients to share in the joy of the season.
How you can help
- Donate online
- Share our campaign with friends, family, and colleagues.
- Encourage your workplace or community group to get involved.
Click here to send a smile this Christmas Day
Celebrating Christmas Day in hospitals in Fife
Christmas party on Ward 2, Queen Margaret Hospital
"Some of our patients don't have regular visits from family and friends and Christmas can be a difficult time for them..."
Gifts to surprise on Hollyview Ward, Cupar
"Last year, I had a patient cry on Christmas Day as he was not used to getting anything."
Chocolates on Ward 3, Glenrothes Hospital
Santa visits and Fife Health Charity's 'Gift of a smile' funds are used to give each patient a small gift of chocolates in Ward 2 at Glenrothes Hospital.
Christmas time on Letham Ward
As part of our Christmas Campaign, Fife Health Charity caught up with Shirley Ward Senior Charge Nurse on Letham Ward in Cameron Hospital, Leven to learn more about spending Christmas time in a hospital setting.
We realise that no-one would choose to be in hospital over the Christmas period, so at Letham Ward we try to make the experience as much fun as possible. We host a ward Christmas party for patients, their relatives, and staff, with music, games, and plenty of festive cheer. It’s a highlight of the season and something our patients really look forward to – staff too actually!
We then make sure we have a gift for every patient all carefully chosen and wrapped for opening on Christmas Day morning. It’s lovely to see the smiles and appreciation on the patient’s faces.
All of this is possible thanks to the support of Fife Health Charity, which makes such a difference to the experience of patients in hospital and their families at Christmas.
Kelly, our Activities Coordinator, does a bit of detective work by speaking with family and friends to find out what each patient might enjoy, so we can make it as personal and surprising as possible. She usually shops locally, carefully selects the gifts, wraps them, and then they’re handed out on Christmas morning which always brings lots of smiles.
With the help of Fife Health Charity, our staff usually hosts a Christmas party and we give out gifts, keeping things light hearted. We find that this really does help boost morale on the ward on Christmas Day.
Christmas on Hollyview Ward, Stratheden, Cupar
We tend to buy a mix of gifts suitable for all of our patients and this always includes some nice toiletries and chocolates. If we have had patients with us for a while we can be more detailed with our choices.
In my ward we have also split the money into gifts and treats: Gifts covering the actual gift and treats such as novelty crackers for Christmas Day, tablecloths and party food to make the hospital food a bit more fun and to offer an evening buffet.
I had one patient cry on Christmas Day as he was not used to getting anything...That's what I see as making a difference.
Visit from Santa signals Christmas on Ward 3, Glenrothes Hospital
Money obtained from Fife Health Charity allowed the staff to provide plenty Christmas cheer for our patients and their family's. Last year for example, Santa paid our patients a visit and funds were used to give each patient a small gift of chocolates.
The ward staff went all out to organise a festive afternoon tea and again the funds allowed us to purchase Christmas food and of course, Christmas crackers. Visitors were part of the mix and music was provided by DJ Amy - fun times.
On Christmas morning patients received person-centred presents, much to their delight. This gesture, coupled with our Christmas tea party and visit from Santa in the run up to Christmas Day were only possible due to the generosity of those that support Fife Health Charity.