Lynne and Lynsay’s Story: Giving Patients a Christmas Like They Might Have at Home

In ward 4 of Liberton Hospital in Edinburgh, a dedicated team of healthcare professionals work tirelessly to care for elderly patients who need a period of rehabilitation after suffering illness or injury. Lynne and Lynsay tell us more about how they give these patients a Christmas like they might have at home:

It can be a tough time for patients who are used to their own environment, so the team work hard to ensure that while the elderly patients are with them, they feel comfortable and well cared for. During their stay on the ward, the staff supports patients with anything they need, from administering medication and caring for any wounds to providing emotional support and coordinating their safe discharge from hospital.

Lynsay Miller, the ward clerkess, and Lynne Carruthers, the activity coordinator, work with their colleagues to care for their patients. As the festive season approaches, they work hard to make the arrangements so that the patients can go home to family and friends for Christmas, as it is so important that they do. Many patients are just too unwell to go home, so they try to make the ward less like hospital and give them a Christmas like they might have had at home.

Lynne Carruthers facilitates various activities for her elderly patients to ensure that they have social interaction and purpose during long days on the ward. The lead-up to the festive period is no different, and she’s planned events that will keep everyone engaged and bring joy to both the patients and the staff.

In the weeks leading up to the big day, Lynne will get crafty with the patients by facilitating activity sessions to make festive pictures and baubles, and they’ll decorate the wards with these alongside the multiple Christmas trees and fairy lights. Lynne will support the patients in making Christmas cards for their family and friends so that even though they are in hospital, they can mark the season and still show their family they care. Family and friends have open access to the ward, and they’re encouraged to get involved in the festivities too.

The staff will arrange a festive get-together on the ward and invite the patients’ families to spend quality time with their loved ones. Musicians will attend to sing Christmas and traditional Scottish songs. Singing makes everyone feel included and can often trigger happy memories for elderly patients. The ward staff will serve a festive buffet for the party guests and use the lovely china tea set the ward has for such events to make the day feel special. They will play fun and festive games with the patients and their families, such as ‘pass the parcel’ and board games.

On Christmas Eve, the ward staff act as Santa’s little helpers and place presents at the foot of patients’ beds so they wake up to their gift on Christmas morning. They give them thoughtful little gifts like nice toiletries or bed socks to keep them cosy. One year, a patient was so moved to receive a gift that they burst into tears of appreciation. It is a small and unexpected act, but it makes the patients feel truly remembered.

On the big day, the staff decorate the dining room for Christmas lunch with a festive tablecloth, napkins, and crackers. Later in the day, they will serve a festive buffet they’ve shopped for, with treats such as quality nibbles, festive cheese and crackers, chocolates, and mocktails. They ensure the patients are just as stuffed as they might have been at home. They invite the families of those patients who can’t go home to join them. They make the ward less like hospital for the day and give them all a Christmas like they might have had at home. Nothing brings the staff more joy than providing a festive experience and creating some happy memories.