Ruth's story

‘My name is Ruth and I have the honour of leading the nursing teams at St Wilfrid’s. It is lovely to be able to write to you and share our plans to make Christmas special for our patients, making sure that that they are comfortable, and controlling their pain so that they can enjoy time with their loved ones.

‘I firstly wanted to say an enormous thank you to our supporters. My colleagues and I are very grateful for the part you have played in helping us to continue to provide care this year.

‘I have worked many Christmas Days on the Inpatient Unit (IPU) over the past 25 years and it's time of mixed emotions. Generally it's not a sad time and it's a real privilege to be able to spend time with patients.

'In the morning we'll make time to chat and give presents. We try to make the day a bit more festive with decorations and a special lunch for patients and visitors later on.

‘It's particularly rewarding to talk to patients who might not have family around and would otherwise be alone. One year a young man, who was a chef, was on the IPU. His family couldn’t be there and he really wanted to make a traditional Christmas trifle. He'd made friends with one of our Young Clinical Volunteers and the two of them made the trifle together on Christmas Eve, for the patients to eat on Christmas Day. For him, it was a bit of normality at a time which could have been quite lonely.

‘Thank you, again, for your support. From all of us here, we wish you and your loved ones a happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas.'