Memories of Christmas on the wards

Christmas is a special time of the year where people stay close to loved ones. Sadly, many people over the years will have had to spend the festive period in hospital. As part of its 'If Wards Could Talk' project, University Hospital of North Staffordshire is asking for memories of Christmas on the hospital wards. The Trust also appealing for photographs of the wards decorated for Christmas, carol concerts, staff shows and parties.

Ian Lawley, If Wards Could Talk project co-coordinator, said: "Nobody wants to spend Christmas in hospital, but the nursing staff always made sure that there was a good atmosphere in the wards. Santa Claus visited the children's wards and the nurses sang carols to patients in their beds. The consultants came in on Christmas Day to carve the turkey and their children would hand round the lunches to the patients".

Former staff and patients have already shared some fascinating memories of Christmas past. One former nurse recalls singing carols to a ward full of German prisoners of war at the end of World War II. The nurses were asked to sing a German carol and the prisoners all sang along. A former child patient remembers being given a doll at the Royal Infirmary Christmas party. She kept the doll for over for 20 years and her own daughter played with it before the doll eventually disintegrated. Several nurses have described how they turned their capes inside out so that the red lining was on the outside before they went carol singing with lanterns on a pole.

Ian said: "We would like to hear from anyone with a Christmas story to tell. Perhaps you sneaked a kiss under the mistletoe and were told off by Matron. Perhaps you were there as a child and received a special gift from Santa. Maybe you recall an amusing incident or a special act of kindness. "

Anyone with stories or photographs is asked to contact Ian Lawley by email at ian.lawley@tiscali.co.uk or via Fit For The Future, the Old Doctor's Residence, North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary.