Residents in East Lancashire are being encouraged to spread some Christmas cheer by buying a gift for every patient who will be spending Christmas in hospital.

ELHT’s charity ELHT&Me has launched the ‘Give a Gift’ appeal to encourage the community to rally around and bring some seasonal warmth to those who won’t be home this Christmas.

Residents can support the appeal by picking up a gift tag from one of the many Christmas trees dotted around various East Lancashire locations, including four of the ELHT hospitals main receptions.

Each gift tag represents a patient who will be in hospital for Christmas and suggests a present to buy for either a child, woman or man.

The size of the gift doesn’t matter as each present will help bring the spirit of Christmas to the wards when all the gifts are given out to patients on Christmas day. 

Denise Gee, head of charity at ELHT&Me said: “While most people will be tucking into turkey in their own home surrounded by family and loved ones, the patients of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust will have a different story to tell the night before Christmas and we’d like your support to help us make Christmas as nice as possible for our patients.

“Give a Gift is all about the patients. Christmas is a difficult time to be away from families, especially when it’s because of a hospital stay, and this way we can show our patients some love and how much people care.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed or bought a gift so far – it will make a huge difference to making that patient’s Christmas Day a little more special.”

To get involved, choose a gift tag from one of the trees, purchase the gift and then drop the gift off at the relevant location (either wrapped or unwrapped) and on the date specified on the tag.

There is also an option to shop online by selecting a gift to be delivered on your behalf. Alternatively, people can support the appeal with an online donation.

For more information and to participate in the appeal, visit the ELHT&Me website.