As ever, the run-up to Christmas has been a cracker here at CHFT - with the highlights being colleagues' efforts for charity. Here's a round-up of some of them....
1 Our teams from the pre-op assessment units at both hospitals raised around £80 with a Christmas jumper day and stall for Macmillan, pictured top right. Glittery bottles for Santa's milk on Xmas Eve were among the handmade items on sale. Natalie Keyworth works for pre- assessment department and as a hobby she makes decorated glasses and bottles.. As part of the fundrarsing effort,she put them on sale and donated 50% of the sales to the Macmillan unit.
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2 Our collection to support homeless people in HRI main entrance this Christmas smashed all previous donations.
As well as food, we received some rucksacks and hats and gloves so volunteers can go out and about on the streets of Huddersfield town centre to make sure everyone is cared for. The effort is being coordinated by the Mission in Lord Street in Huddersfield. Many homeless people will attend a central kitchen for a Christmas dinner, but some do not make it so volunteers need to track them down.
As well as all the choccies and treats there are essentials and basic food stuffs.
Organiser John Ennis, pictured bottom left, said: "There's been a tremendous response this year. We wish to thank everyone for their support and for remembering people at this time of year."
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3 Our bank healthcare assistant Kay Novak and her family are giving up their own Christmas day celebrations again to support local vulnerable and lonely people.
Kay, bottom right, told us: "Every year my family give up their Xmas Day for people who are financially struggling or families who need support. We help put a big charity meal at the Jubilee Centre, Paddock, on so they can fill their bellies and socialise.
"Some people have nobody on Xmas Day and I wouldn't like to see anyone alone. If other colleagues would like to offer their time by coming and socialising with people on the day, they can contact Kay or her sister-in-law Charlene (pictured). Kay's number is 07585 124 010 and Charlene's is: 07731 344 040
Please see the leaflet below for more information. The lunch is being held at The Jubilee Centre, Market Street, Paddock between 1pm and 3pm.
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4 A fab selfie - top left - of the Calderdale midwives out for their Christmas bash was so good, we contacted midwife Natalie Gledhill - who posted it on the F&SS closed Facebook page - to find out more.
She told us: "We had a great time. We're a bunch of 30 hardworking midwives and healthcare assistants. We went to Jax Bar and Tapas in Huddersfield and then to town. And during the night we had a midwifery themed sing-a-long based on the 12 Days of Christmas".
"We're also running a raffle for Labour Ward funds (drawn today). So far we've raised almost £300 and there are some great prizes too for the winners."
And co-organiser of the raffle midwife manager Rachel Clifford,added: "The raffle has two Xmas hampers, a beautiful nappy cake made by one of our midwives, Heather Jayne and some bottles of fizz as runner up prizes.
"This is the second year we have had our Christmas bake sale and raffle. On the same day a school choir visits and sings to all the mums in our care and the visitors in the main entrance which is beautiful! We also had a visit from Santa."
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5 Christmas Kindness Box collection
Once again our Caren Reid and Angela Hope from Clinical Skills & Simulation have put the call out for colleagues to put together kindness boxes for vulnerable or elderly people in our hospitals. The photo shows Santa Barry Ackroyd helping deliver some boxes to the A&E team at CRH.
Pictured are: ED consultant - Chamika Mapatuna, matron – Louise Croxall, manager – Helen Jones and Lead Nurse – Andrew Elwers
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6 On Tuesday 12th December the Voluntary Service and two volunteers presented Becky, a playworker on the Children's Ward at Calderdale a number of presents purchased from money raised at the Volunteers Christmas Party raffle. Volunteers, Mollie Addy and Roz Jessop were chosen to deliver the presents on behalf of all the volunteers. A few of you may recognise Mollie as she is usually found in the entrance of the HRI helping patients find their way and Roz who works on one of the Tea Bars in Calderdale, generously gave two prizes towards the raffle which helped raised the funds for all these fabulous new toys.
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7 Community's Upper Valley Reablement Team hamper distibution
Upper Valley Reablement Team and Therapist worked together to make up several Christmas Hampers filled with a variety of different festive treats and gifts to handout to the individuals in the service who unfortunately were spending the Christmas period alone.
Five service users in all were selected and when the staff delivered the Hampers on Christmas Eve their reactions were of thankfulness. Some were overwhelmed that we could be so thoughtful as a service and that we wanted to take the opportunity to make a difference to people’s Health and Well-being.
The photo below shows the team members who all worked hard together to make a difference to people using the service over Christmas