South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust has launched its annual #NightwearBeforeChristmas campaign.
It is appealing for people to donate the items, along with slippers with backs on them, toiletries, novels, puzzles and colouring in books.
The gifts will be handed out to those being looked after at South Tyneside District Hospital and Sunderland Royal Hospital on Christmas Eve.
The Delirium and Dementia Outreach Team (DDOT), which leads the appeal, and The Older Person’s Improvement Collaborative (TOPIC) run by the Trust also work together throughout the year to collect items to help older patients have a more comfortable stay on wards.
They also like to have items such as toiletries, underwear and socks ready to gift to people. It is hoped these help give patients more dignity and a better stay in hospital, especially if they do not have relatives or friends who are local to support them.
Andrea Lawson is one of the Elder Life Specialist Practitioners based with DDOT. The team works with inpatients on the wards to get them mobile, eating and chatting as part of their rehabilitation.
The team also oversees sessions in the Alexandra Centre at Sunderland Royal Hospital, which runs activities to help patients get moving and socialising with the aim of getting them ready for discharge once well enough.
Andrea said: “This Christmas, instead of sending cards our team will be buying nightwear for our older patients who don’t have relatives to make their Christmas special.
“As a Christmas treat, they will get a new nightdress or pyjamas for when they wake up on Christmas morning.
“Last year we had a fantastic response to our #NightwearBeforeChristmas appeal.
“This made such a difference to our patients. Everyone said Christmas morning was so special and the patients loved their presents.
“Some helpers from the Discharge Lounge at South Tyneside District Hospital and our team at Sunderland Royal head out on Christmas Eve to make the deliveries.
“It’s a lovely task to do and people’s faces light up when we hand them their gift.
“If you’re out shopping and are able to spare a bit of cash to help boost our campaign, we’d be delighted and you will be making such a difference to our older patients who will be in hospital this December 25.”
People are asked to wrap up their nightwear and label it with whether it is for a man or woman and what size it is.
Sharon Velen and Jan Defty who work as Healthcare Assistants at the Discharge Lounge at South Tyneside District Hospital which is part of the #NightwearBeforeChristmas campaign.
To donate at Sunderland Royal Hospital, people are asked to take their gift to the Alexandra Centre on E Floor, where there is a drop of point set up if the team is not available.
The centre is open from 8am to 3pm, Monday to Friday. Anyone with any questions can call DDOT on 0191 569 9766 or extension 41572.
To donate at South Tyneside District Hospital, people are asked to take their item to the Discharge Lounge, which is based on Ward 20, which is in the Deans Wing opposite the main hospital building.
The lounge is open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and from 8am to 6pm on Sunday.
More information about the work of DDOT can be found through the Dementia Care page of the Trust’s website.
