Hospital thanks Christmas donors

5:36pm Tuesday 15th January 2008

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BUSINESSES and volunteers who supported the 12 Days of Christmas' campaign by Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust have been praised by the chairman Mike Gretton.

In a break from tradition, clinical areas at Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital and Andover War Memorial were not decked out for Christmas.

This was to make them easier to keep clean and a sign of the Trust's intent to improve the environment for patients.

Mr Gretton said: "We were donated brand new Christmas trees for our non clinical areas, gifts were bought or supplied by local businesses for our patients, and there was entertainment too. In the spirit of the season there were delicious things to eat - mince pies, luxury Christmas cake and chocolates.

"We know that being in hospital over Christmas is not ideal so I am really grateful to all those businesses and volunteers who helped out. It made a huge difference and really brightened up the stay for our patients and our duty staff."

He added: "As well as the support we've had from the community, I am thrilled that our patients and visitors understood and appreciated why our wards weren't decorated. They thought our 12 Days of Christmas' theme was marvellous."

The donors and their gifts were: Alpha Laboratories Ltd, Eastleigh (£20 for gifts); Andover Light Orchestra (entertainment for patients); Aramark,Army caterers, Worthy Down (240 mince pies); Asda, Chandler's Ford (£50 for gifts); Band of the Adjutant General Corps Army (entertainment); Cadet Force (musical entertainment for patients); B&Q Head Office, Chandler's Ford (Christmas trees and decorations); Beales, Winchester (£20 gift vouchers); Bendicks of Mayfair, Winchester (three boxes of chocs, catering size); Boots High St, Winchester (£25 gift voucher); C&H Fabrics, Winchester (£20 for gifts); Con Brio (musical entertainment for patients); Cadogan & James, Winchester (luxury hamper as patient gift); Early Learning Centre (10per cent discount on gifts for children); Fleming Park Leisure Centre, Eastleigh (5 x one week trial vouchers); Tudor Roses barbershop singers (entertainment for patients).

Hilliers Romsey Road, Winchester (£50 in vouchers for patients); Jake Crockford and Marissa Walcott-Wilson (violinists/entertainment for patients); Lainston House, Sparsholt (Luxury Christmas cake for patients); Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (Hospital Radio interview and theatre tickets); Mayor & Mayoress of Winchester (Christmas Day visit to patients); Sweet & Maxwell publishers (Presents for patients at Andover); McKinsey & Co consultancy (£50 for gifts for patients).

Red Cross Volunteers (Hand massages for patients); Reeve the Baker, Winchester (100 mince pies); River Park Leisure Centre, Winchester (2 x one week trials); Sainsbury's, Badger Farm, Winchester (£20 for gifts for patients); Sainsbury's, Middlebrook St, Winchester (mince pies, chocolates, staff donation of toys for children); Somerfield, Chandlers Ford (£4 towards presents for patients); Stannah Management Services, Andover (£50 towards presents for patients).

Test Valley Mayor (Christmas Day visit); The Works, Winchester (20 per cent off presents for patients); Tesco Stores, Eastleigh (£100 towards presents for patients); Tesco Stores, Harestock (Plasma Screen TV & DVDs); Tesco Stores, Winnall (£10 towards presents for patients); Test Valley Brass (Musical entertainment for patients); Theatre Royal, Winchester (Panto Dame and Fairy visit plus theatre tickets for patients).

Anna Masson, volunteer (Visit from Orkney (toy poodle); Warren & Son Ltd, Winchester (£40); Waterstone's High St, Winchester (20 x children's books); Watercress Line, Alresford (2 x family tickets); Winchester Round Table (£760 for presents for children and babies); Winchester Hospital Radio, Anna O'Brien (Competitions and dedications).