Christmas at Stepping Hill Hospital was busy as usual.

The annual carol concert was held at St Peter’s Church in Hazel Grove, and carols were sung on the wards too. This year our Director of Nursing Alison Lynch also played a selection of festive songs on the clarinet for patients, staff and visitors.

A special Christmas lunch attended by our Chair Adrian Belton was once more held for the 300 volunteers who give their time, energy and commitment each year. The same volunteers were out and about over Christmas giving cheer to patients.

Our tree house children’s unit received a number of festive visitors including Alfie the pug dog, the Starlight pantomime team, the local fire service, the Music in Hospitals charity, and Santa himself. A number of local businesses generously donated presents for children in hospital over Christmas and New Year. Hospital staff in turn gave their own kind donations to Stockport Foodbank for local families facing hardship over the holiday period.

Over 700 staff were still at work to care for patients over Christmas Day itself – one of whom, nursing assistant practitioner Pauline O’Brien, featured in a special ‘Christmas Heroes’ film from the Manchester Evening News. Another nurse; Chelsea Winterbottom also featured in the national Huffington Post, whilse domestic staff member Ann Williams was in the Manchester Weekly News.  We also had five Christmas Day babies born on our maternity suite.