Friends bring festive joy to Seafield Hospital patients

THERE was some festive joy for patients at Buckie's Seafield Hospital thanks to a dedicated team effort.

Friends of Seafield Hospital and Community Patients gave Santa a helping hand recently and put smiles on faces at the same time as they handed out gifts to those who would be spending Christmas in the facility. Joining in the efforts was the town's Tesco store.

Friends chairwoman Megan Walls, who is a nurse at the hospital, said: "Every year we give patients a present for Christmas to open.

"We include in the gift bags some sweets, toiletries such as shower gels, razors, deodorant, body sprays etc and other items like handkerchiefs and lip balms.

"We're very grateful to Tesco's charity supervisor Nicola Young for her help. She shopped for all the items and Tesco donated 34 re-usable Christmas shopping bags and 34 boxes of chocolates for the patients."

As with just about every other aspect of life over the past 20 months or so Covid has had an impact on how the Friends dispense festive cheer around the hospital. However, that did not prevent one group of local primary youngsters making their contribution to the cause.

Ms Walls continued: "Pre-Covid all the committee would go to the hospital and give out the gifts with local primary school children.

"Unfortunately, due to Covid we have been unable to do this so I went to drop off the gifts to the staff and they will hand them out.

"We're very grateful to Cluny Primary teacher Mrs Yvonne Chappell and her p4 class who very kindly decorated Christmas cards for the patients.

"Despite Covid hitting our normal fund-raising we have still been receiving generous donations throughout the pandemic. We did plan to do a fund-raising event but again, Covid hit. I have a Facebook page and we usually do a cash prize near christmas which is always a success.

"We are always open to have new volunteers join the friends. We currently have me, Rhonda Mckintosh, Linda Walls, Shona Mair, Christine Allan, Yvonne Chappell and Lesley Davidson. If anyone was interested in joining they are welcome to contact me on 07539 966261 or via the group's Facebook page Friends of Seafield and Community Patients."

Aside from ensuring patients do not miss out on Christmas, the Friends over the years have been able to provide numerous pieces of equipment for the hospital thanks to their fund-raising activities and generous local support.

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