So far this year, the team has already joined together with the Health & Social Care Committee to lead a carol service, and another choir organised by a member of the chaplaincy team travelled through the hospital’s wards to sing to the patients.
‘We left each ward with people asking for more,’ said hospital chaplain the Rev. Linda Le Vasseur.
This year, around 100 people were present at the joint chaplaincy and HSC carol service, including the Lt Governor Sir Richard Cripwell and Lady Cripwell, Dame Mary Perkins and two representatives from Smile for Georgie, which sponsored a Christmas buffet for patients following the carols.
‘Our aim is for people to be able to be in their own homes at Christmas, but sometimes that is not possible as they are just too unwell,’ said Mrs Le Vasseur.
‘That’s why we try hard to make Christmas at the hospital as wonderful as possible.’
The team has helped to arrange more carolling in the Oberlands Centre, the assisted living complex at Le Grand Courtil, and the Fougere and Hanois wards, as well as the distribution of gifts to hospital patients.
The team will be giving patients hand-painted Jesus rocks provided by St Saviour’s Church, along with knitted angels crafted and donated by a team of volunteers from St Andrew’s Church.
Working with practice development lead nurse Helena Avery, they have also raised sufficient funds to be able to provide a small gift for every patient who is in hospital over Christmas.
‘This is really important, as there will be some people who otherwise would receive no presents and visits at Christmas,’ said Mrs Le Vasseur. ‘It’s a token that someone cares.’
Fellow chaplain the Rev. Justin Taylor from the Church of Scotland in the Grange will also be leading a carol service and a communion service the week before Christmas.
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