As we know our services don't stop for Christmas. So, we've been speaking to a few of our colleagues at HRI to see what they did to make Christmas Day special on our wards.
How do you celebrate Christmas on the ward?
Ward 18 Staff Nurse, Florentina Bundoiu - Everybody from the team brings food from home and from all our different cultures. I'm Romanian and bringing an Italian dessert this year to share with the team.
Ward 19 - We give out presents and try to make it as happy and festive as we can for each other as well as our patients. We encourage patients to see their families and try to focus on what they want for the day.
Ward 21 - We try and make it as important as we can. We make sure that we get all our patients washed and ready for their visits with family. We'll often turn the radio on and listen to Christmas carols and music. That makes it really jolly on the ward - everyone singing along to their favourite Christmas tracks.
Are there any festive traditions that you do with your patients or with each other?
Ward 17 - We have so much food. Everyone brings in something - so that's a great thing about working on Christmas Day, you're never hungry!
Ward 19 - We enjoy pulling crackers with the patients! It's a fun way to celebrate. Then we make sure our patients are all wearing their Christmas party hats, it helps add to the Christmas spirit.
Ward 20 - A former Staff Nurse who used to work with us comes in dressed as Santa to give presents to patients - we all look forward to it!
Ward 21 - Our colleagues who work nights always put patient presents at the end of their beds during the night - that way they wake up and it truly feels like Santa has visited. We're still trying to make it feel like Christmas morning.
Ward 21 Staff Nurse, Janet Myhowycz - In the past I have taken photos of patients with their families who come to visit them on Christmas Day, then I print those photos at home and give them to the patients the next day as a nice way for them to remember the day.
What is it like on the ward on Christmas Day?
Ward 17 - It feels a bit more special on Christmas, we try and make it fun for patients - dressing up a bit with the festive headbands just to try and spread some joy.
Ward 19 - It's always very jovial working on Christmas Day on the ward. It's never sombre. We can't be with our families, but the team here make each other feel festive to make up for that.
Ward 20 - Even though we're working it still feels like Christmas Day, we all work together to make sure the day is still special for our patients and that they don't feel like they're in hospital.
Ward 21 - We all feel a bit happier - it's Christmas Day! I love being here on Christmas Day, I just think it's such a happy time and the atmosphere is lovely, colleagues are just buzzing.
Ward 22 - Everyone is happier and more jolly. We're all just singing whilst making the beds!
