Hospitals at Christmas

No-one likes going to hospital at Christmas or staying in, but often it is necessary. However, it is down to the people in the hospital who make these experiences more bearable, with Christmas decorations, even Christmas music in waiting rooms and kindness. I have experienced this myself and what could be a terrifying experience becomes a bearable one.

Epsom General is a very busy hospital and covers a wide area of the population. Visitors to the hospital come in pain, suffering or sometimes even in anger. The nurses, doctors and other staff have to put up with bad language, grumpiness even violence at times and still have to carry on. However, the constant generosity of spirit and compassion shows through even at Christmas, one of their busiest times.

When I had to see a consultant, the nurse who guided me through all the steps that I needed to follow, was so positive and cheerful that she almost felt like a friend rather than the nurse. She, like many others went beyond the call of duty and made me feel so comfortable. When I had to go to have an ECG, she personally took me to the right department rather than allowing me to wander aimlessly through the hospital. This sort of care makes you feel more able to cope with the experience that you are going through.

At all different levels the pressure in a hospital can be immense from the nurse to the consultant. The latter job role can be extremely stressful with so many decisions being made on their advice, but the consultant that I saw as with others seems to have time only for you and will spend as much time as it takes. Again there were festive touches which seemed to be everywhere: - the little Christmas tree in the corner of the room, the Christmas cards and the Angel decoration, hanging from the lamp. For children this is particularly important to create a sense of perspective in the whole thing.

I believe that in the hospitals up London the atmosphere is the same. The children who stay in wards see Father Christmas, listen to Christmas carols and have a party as much as is possible. This is all extra workload on the staff who are already over- stretched but do so with a good heart. There are many who criticise the NHS system and obviously there are many problems with resourcing and commitment but there are still so many good people whose priority is the patient.

Epsom General is one hospital in Surrey whose staff do their best at this difficult time of year to keep  the kindness of Christmas and particularly make the children feel that it is still a special time. I personally have appreciated that very much.

By Julia Woods, Sutton High School