University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) Charity is raising money for its Christmas Appeal to bring some festive magic to patients and staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital this Christmas.

Being in hospital is never easy, especially over Christmastime. Hospitals are still extremely busy during this period and the amazing staff continue to work incredibly hard to provide the best care and support to patients and their families. That’s why UHB Charity wants to spread some Christmas cheer by providing toys for poorly children undergoing treatment, Christmas trees and decorations for the hospitals, and treats for patients and staff to share.

The Charity is organising various events and activities to fundraise for the Christmas Appeal. There will be choirs performing at all four hospitals throughout December, including local school choirs, a gospel choir and a signing choir. The Charity will also be hosting two Carol Concerts on Thursday 14 December in Solihull and Tuesday 19 December in Selly Park. Another way to support the Christmas Appeal is by taking part in Festive Jumper Day on 8 December and wearing your favourite Christmas jumper. The Charity hubs at each hospital site also have a variety of Christmas cards, gifts and decorations available to buy, with all proceeds going to the hospital charities.

As well as Christmas gifts for sale in the Charity hubs, UHB Charity also has a Virtual Gift Shop, where you can purchase a present that will support patients and staff at your local hospital over the Christmas period. You can fund accommodation to keep families together this Christmas, Prematurity Packs for parents whose little ones were born early and will be in hospital over Christmas, or you could buy a toy for a poorly child who won’t be able to celebrate the big day at home this year.

Charlotte Schofield, Director of Fundraising at UHB Charity said:

“It’s incredibly important to support our local hospitals, more than ever at Christmastime. We are proud to be able to bring some festive magic to our patients and staff by providing treats, toys and decorations to ensure they can still celebrate Christmas.”

To kick off the festivities at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, lung transplant recipient, Andy Bright, switched on the Christmas tree lights in the main entrance to a crowd of patients and staff. Andy had been living with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a chronic lung disease characterised by a progressive and irreversible decline in lung function, until he received a life-changing double lung transplant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in 2018. 

He said:

“My transplant has given me so many opportunities to talk to people about Pulmonary Fibrosis and the importance of organ donation. Also, to thank those in the NHS for all the hard and wonderful work they do, and the many lives they touch. Most importantly, I’d like to say thank you to my unknown saviour. Thank you for all the Christmasses I will be able to see.”

To support your local hospital this Christmas and for more information about UHB Charity’s Christmas Appeal, please visit: www.hospitalcharity.org/christmasappeal