Community generosity brings festive spirit to North Mid

More than a month of almost daily donations of gifts, time and experiences has brought smiles and 'happy tears' to the faces of patients and staff at North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, prompting Trust senior leaders to send out a community-wide ‘Thankyou’ for the incredible generosity.

From major companies to small community groups, and professional sports stars to individual families and former patients, the donations have ranged from toys and games, to clothes and snacks – and even a mini ride-on electric car!

Chief Executive of the Edmonton-based NHS Trust, Maria Kane, said staff throughout North Mid had been “absolutely staggered” by the generosity of people from the local area and beyond, and were “truly grateful” for the donations which would help them make the Christmas experience for patients who need to stay in hospital brighter and more comfortable.

She said: “We are very fortunate that we have such strong connections within our local community, and we value these ongoing relationships year-round, but we’ve been completely taken aback by the generosity we’ve seen this past few weeks – it’s absolutely staggering, especially when we know there is significant inequality and challenges facing some parts of our local community.

“For the 3,500 staff who work at North Mid, including the 1,500 (tbc) who will be working on Christmas Day, it’s a sign of how much people value what this anchor organisation contributes to the local community. We’re truly grateful that so many individuals, groups, and companies have taken the time and trouble to organise collections and have made the choice to donate to North Mid.”

The 2019 festive run-up has included:

• The stars of local pantomime Mother Goose visiting our children’s wards for bedside chats, stories and photos
• BBC Songs of Praise presenter Pam Rhodes leading a special Christmas concert with the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity team based at North Mid

• Choirs from four local primary schools – St Francis de Sales, Wilbury, Raynham and Oakthorpe – singing in our atrium, and visiting our care of the elderly wards
• West End performers the Enfield Community Choir singing carols in the hospital main atrium
• Spurs legends Ossie Ardiles, Ledley King and Gary Mabbutt bringing unique memorabilia to our older people’s wards and spending the afternoon with patients over tea and a mince pie
• Tottenham Hotspur stars Toby Alderweireld, Ryan Mason, Danny Rose, and Kyle Walker-Peters bringing piles of presents to our children’s wards
• Haringey mayor Cllr Sheila Peacock joining our older patients for festive treats
• Tesco supermarkets across north London donating car-loads of toys, clothes, games and snacks for patients and staff
• Firefighters from Edmonton bringing their fire engine for our younger patients to explore, along with gifts and presents for our children’s wards
• Local choir, the Sometimes Singers, braving foul weather in Trafalgar Square to raise money for North Mid’s charitable fund
• Barclays Bank donating books, games and rucksacks for our child patients
• A genuine mini-Tesla electric car for children who need operations or radiography to be able to ‘drive’ themselves to their procedure, adding fun and reducing anxiety

We are also looking forward to welcoming the Mayor of Enfield, Cllr Kate Anolue – a former North Mid midwife – to our neonatal unit on New Year’s Day.

Trust Chief Executive Maria Kane added: “We’re bowled over by how generous people have been, but what’s really lovely is how much time, thought and effort people have put into their donations to North Mid. It’s a sign that we are part of a really strong community where people truly care for each other, and I’m proud and grateful that North Mid gets to play a central part in such a community.”

You can donate to North Mid’s charitable fund at no additional cost to you by using Amazon Smile (www.smile.amazon.co.uk) or by sending contributions to our donations team. Find out more at www.northmid.nhs.uk/donate.