Christmas gifts arriving for sick children

THE Hunts Post’s Christmas present appeal for children who have to spend the festive period in hospital has got off to a great start with donated gifts arriving at our offices.

THE Hunts Post’s Christmas present appeal for children who have to spend the festive period in hospital has got off to a great start with donated gifts arriving at our offices.

The appeal is simple: we are asking readers to dig a little deeper and add one more present to their Christmas shopping list for our Buy a Gift campaign in aid of Holly children’s ward at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

For children on the Holly Ward, festive fun can be a little harder to come by from the confines of their hospital bed.

The 25-bed ward caters for children aged up to 17 who are cared for by a staff of 30 that includes qualified nurses and support workers, as well as eight consultants.

Ward manager Chris Luckham said: “The run-up to Christmas can be extremely busy. Parents want to make sure their child is well, and we do get a lot of babies in with bronchitis. We will send home as many as we can, but those who are the severest patients will remain here in hospital.

“We try to make it especially memorable for them. Father Christmas comes round and we provide stockings with presents for the children.”

You can make that day a little bit more special by simply picking up an extra book, toiletries set, game, DVD or toy and dropping it into The Hunts Post and we’ll make sure the Christmas cheer at Holly Ward stretches a little further this year.

INFORMATION: The Hunts Post is at 30 High Street, Huntingdon. Presents should be wrapped but include a note to say what is inside.