Staff at the Golden Jubilee Hospital will spread festive cheer across the wards with a visit from Santa, classic yule-tide tunes and a Christmas lunch.
We visited the busy medical facility as they gear up for the busy period by keeping patients spirits up with decorations and a special plans for the big day.
Meet the incredible NHS nurses who will be working the wards on Christmas Day (Image: NQ)
Meet the incredible NHS nurses who will be working the wards on Christmas Day (Image: NQ)
Gillian Rankin, senior nursing assistant in Orthopaedics, says they do whatever they can to make the day more enjoyable for patients.
She said: “You need to be more positive on Christmas Day with everyone because they are in hospital, they are already quite down.
“You never want to leave someone on their own. We are the ones that need to make it an experience for them.
“It’s good to have a laugh and joke with them. Christmas is more upbeat than other days, you make it fun.”
Meet the incredible NHS nurses who will be working the wards on Christmas Day (Image: NQ)
Maisie Allan, a staff nurse in interventional cardiology, says she doesn’t mind working Christmas Day as she pushes her own celebrations to another day in the week.
She said: “You don’t dread coming in on Christmas Day. One of us dresses up as Santa and we will go round the ward with the trolley with presents for all the patients which is nice as they all get something.
“A lot of our patients come from further away, so if their family can’t get in, we try and give them a present and we put Christmas music on through the day and just loads the cups of tea and chocolate.
“I was expecting to work Christmas Day, it’s good to take your turn, but it’s actually quite a nice day. We’re all quite close in the wards.”
Meet the incredible NHS nurses who will be working the wards on Christmas Day (Image: NQ)
Siobhan McCafferty, who is also a staff nurse in interventional cardiology, said trying to make the day as special as possible is important.
She said: “You try to make it more special because a lot of people away for their loved ones. So you do you try and make it a bit more festive for them.
“You know you take your turn to work Christmas. I’ll normally just do my presents when I get home.”
Meet the incredible NHS nurses who will be working the wards on Christmas Day (Image: NQ)
Gary Howson, Stephanie O’Connell and Lauren Dougan are some of the many selfless staff who will be working the wards in the Golden Jubilee.
Gary says he’s not the biggest fan of Christmas so doesn’t mind clocking in for a shift that day.
He said: “I’ve worked most Christmases, but I don’t really mind it. I wouldn’t say I love Christmas.
“I used to work in hospitality and always worked Christmas, so it’s just become what I do.
“It’s like a normal day, but slightly more light-hearted I suppose.
“There’s usually less going on because we’re not operating and there’s less people around, so it’s slightly nicer.”