Secret Santa Appeal

Christmas is approaching, a time for family and friends, but many patients across Edinburgh and the Lothians are too unwell to go home. You can help create happy memories for these patients and their families during this festive season by donating to our Secret Santa Appeal.

I am Claire Adamson, Clinical Nurse Manager in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. I lead a team of dedicated healthcare professionals who care for the smallest and sickest babies and work tirelessly to give them a fighting chance at life and the opportunity to thrive. It’s a daunting and scary time for the parents, so while caring for the babies, we also offer them practical and emotional support. We provide around-the-clock care for babies born prematurely or with complex medical conditions requiring intensive treatment.

Many babies are in intensive care for long periods, and some spend their first Christmas in hospital. Throughout my 23-year-long career, I’ve spent every other Christmas on our ward caring for the sickest newborn babies.

We’d love your help to bring joy to families across NHS Lothian. A donation from you today will bring joy to patients including tiny babies and their families who are spending Christmas in hospital this year.

Nothing brings me more joy than providing a festive experience. We put great effort into making the ward less like hospital for the season. Subtle decorations, such as fairy lights and a carefully decorated Christmas tree, adorn the public areas of the ward, transforming it into a comforting and festive space.

While we strive to create a festive atmosphere, we are also mindful of the emotional toll the festive season can take on families. There are days on the ward when babies won’t make it home, and sadly, for some tiny babies, this Christmas may be their first and last. We are determined to make lasting memories during a difficult time for the family to cherish.

On Christmas day in wards across NHS Lothian, my colleagues go all out to make the day special for patients and their families. It is important to make it as festive as we can for the staff too, as many have chosen to be there and given up their own Christmas to care for their patients.

Our ward is no different. The families have open access to the ward, and we fit around their needs. Our nurses and doctors wear festive scrubs featuring reindeer and elves, spreading holiday cheer throughout the unit. Each baby receives a Christmas stocking filled with thoughtful gifts to recognise these precious babies’ first Christmas, such as cuddly toys, knitted hats and cardigans, and handmade Christmas baubles. The gifts are unexpected, and parents are moved by this act of kindness and feel truly cared for.

Amid the challenges and uncertainties faced by patients and families across Edinburgh and the Lothians, the dedication and compassion of my NHS colleagues provide a beacon of hope and joy. Our efforts to create a festive environment and our unwavering support remind them that even in the darkest times, there is always a reason to celebrate.

This can only happen with your help, so please be a Secret Santa and lift the spirits of NHS Lothian patients today.

Warmest wishes

Claire Adamson
NHS Lothian