Published on: 23 December 2021

Hospital patients will be getting cosy in their new PJs and nighties ready for an extra comfy Christmas thanks to the generosity of NHS supporters. 

Heaps of wrapped items have flooded in to support the Nightwear Before Christmas campaign following a call by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust in the lead up to the festive time. 

As a result of the kindness of individuals, community organisations, work places and other parts of the NHS, more than 500 gifts will be handed out to wards across South Tyneside District Hospital and Sunderland Royal Hospital on Christmas Eve. 

The teams behind the effort, the Delirium and Dementia Outreach Team (DDOT) at Sunderland Royal Hospital and the Discharge Lounge at South Tyneside, are overjoyed with the response. 

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Cheryl Proctor, DDOT pharmacist, Emily Liddle, Hospital Elder Life Programme Assistant, and Jessica Young, Elder Life Specialist Practitioner.

Jessica Young, an Elder Life Specialist Practitioner based in the Alexandra Centre run by DDOT, said: “The response has been really great and we have had a lot of phone calls from people to tell us they’re dropping them off or that they’ve posted them in our post box outside. 

“It’s been brilliant to see lots more donations made again this year. 

“Sometimes the patients like to wear their new nightclothes on Christmas Eve, sometimes they like to keep them to open on Christmas Day. 

“It really helps bring out the festive atmosphere and the patients are really grateful as some come in to hospital with very little and don’t have loved ones to bring in these personal items.” 

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Paul Young, manager of the Discharge Lounge at South Tyneside District Hospital, and Staff Nurse Diane Geach.

Paul Young, who manages the Discharge Lounge at South Tyneside District Hospital, added: “We want to say thank you very much for the donations and the nightwear will be so gratefully received by patients on our wards this Christmas.” 

Donations have been gifted by people and staff from organisations including the Department for Work and Pensions, Ryhope Reminiscence Group, the Foundation of Light and many of the Trust’s own staff. 

NHS colleagues working for the North East Ambulance Service and Fulwell and Concord Medical Practices have also been among those to drop in items.