Michele’s Story: Bringing Festive Joy and Creating a Brighter Christmas for Everyone.

Michele Counter, an NHS Lothian Ward Clerk, works in the Medical Assessment Unit at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. Here she tells us more about how the bring festive joy to patients and families.

“Here at the Medical Assessment Unit, we care for those patients referred to us by their GP or the Ambulance Service and present with urgent medical conditions. It is a busy unit, often at full capacity, and my colleagues and I ensure that patients are rapidly assessed, stabilised, and, if possible, receive a diagnosis. We care for people from all walks of life, such as the elderly and vulnerable people, and a wide range of specialists will assess a full range of conditions seen daily, such as cardiology and medicine of the elderly. This can be a daunting and scary time for patients and their families, so for the short time they are with us, we offer them emotional support as well as caring for all their physical needs.

“The Christmas period is no different. Many patients are too unwell to go home to family or friends on Christmas Day. The ward staff put a lot of effort into making the ward less like hospital for the season, bringing festive joy, and creating a brighter Christmas for everyone.

“On Christmas morning, the ward staff act as Santa’s helpers and place presents at the foot of patients’ beds so they wake up to their gifts. We give them thoughtful little gifts like nice toiletries, slipper socks, or jigsaw puzzles for distraction. Some of our patients arrive at the unit lacking possessions and don’t have visitors, so we can give them back some dignity and provide them with some of what they need. For some patients, the present they receive from us is the only gift they get that day.

“In the evening, the team visits each bedside with a festive trolley stacked with goodies we’ve shopped for, such as quality mince pies, Christmas cake, nibbles and crisps, biscuits and chocolates, and cheese and crackers. We will also provide something nice to drink like apple juice and Shloer. They all select their favourites, and we try to ensure the patients are just as stuffed as they might have been at home. We’ll also provide these festive treats on Boxing Day and for New Year, and there is an open-door policy for visiting family and friends.

“One elderly, stoic patient we cared for was uncharacteristically moved by the gift and the experience we gave them on Christmas Day. It was unexpected, as they thought it would be like any other day in the unit. These small acts of kindness make our patients feel truly cared for and remembered by someone they don’t know.

“It is important to make the day joyful for the staff in the Medical Assessment Unit as well. Many have had to give up Christmas with their own families to care for our patients, and we strive to bring festive cheer to everyone.”