Pink Pages     MyLocalHero 2022     Advertise with us     

BreakingYourLocalNews

Starfish Ward at Watford General receive special visitors over festive period

 Published on: 20th October 2017   |   By: The Newsdesk   |   Category:

Young patients, parents, doctors, nurses and support staff at Watford Hospital have been overwhelmed by the generous donations received by the children’s ward this Christmas. The ward received a special Christmas surprise when Watford Football Club’s team mascot, Harry The Hornet and first team squad members, Troy Deeney, Marco Cassetti, Fernando Forestieri, Josh McEachran and Daniel Pudil popped in last week to hand out presents, pose for photographs and sign autographs on Starfish Ward, Safari Day Unit and the Children’s Emergency department. The Christmas cheer has continued over the past few weeks with the ward receiving sacks full of donated presents from local companies and charities. Hemel Hempstead and Watford REED recruitment offices launched a gift appeal in November and visited the ward to hand out presents, including a new digital radio and iPod docking station, which will be used in the adolescent room on Starfish Ward. ‘Mr Christmas’ of Hertfordshire and his family (also known as 79-year-old Dave Edwards) visited on Monday, December 23 to present a share of the £4,000 they have raised for the children’s ward and other local charities. For the past 35 years Mr Edwards and his family have had a spectacular display of Christmas lights and decorations at their home in Croxley Green.  The display takes two weeks to put up and was recently featured in a Channel 5 documentary. Some of the money raised this year will be donated to POD, a children’s charity which organises entertainment for children in hospital.  Auntie Julie, an entertainer who works for POD, recently delighted the children on Starfish Ward with one of her unique shows. Samantha Jones is the Trust’s Chief Executive.  She said: “On behalf of our young patients, their families and the staff, I would like to say a very big thank you to all the local companies who have kindly donated to our children’s service this year.  We have been absolutely overwhelmed by their generosity. “We were delighted that the Watford football players were once again able to visit us.  The children were so excited about meeting the players; it’s a real treat for all of them.  It gives them something positive to focus on and to look forward to. “The presents and visits have a really positive effect on our young patients, particularly those who may have to stay in hospital over Christmas.”

 

For more information about the work of West Herts hospitals visit www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk.  a  

Sign up to get weekly local news updates & offers:

[gravityform id="3" title="false" description="false" ajax="true"]

0 Comments

Leave a comment

*

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Advertise with our magazine
Top