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Festive shoppers can make patients’ wishes come true

Hands holding Christmas gift

Published on 12 November 2019

Christmas shoppers can now pick up an extra gift for patients in hospital thanks to two wishlists set up by East Kent Hospitals Charity.

Specialist nurses helped create the lists, with one for children and one for frail patients and those living with dementia.

Items range from stickers and colouring pencils to books about being in hospital, night lights, games and crafts.

Adult items include magnifying sheets to help people read books or newspapers, large-print crossword books or puzzle games.

Everything costs less than £20, with prices starting from under £2.

Dee Neligan, fundraising and development officer for East Kent Hospitals Charity, said the lists were introduced after requests from supporters.

She said: “We often get people asking if they can buy anything for our hospitals, especially in the run-up to Christmas.

“Some people prefer to buy an item themselves rather than donate money, and thanks to the wishlists they can now do just that.

“All the items are things that will be used by our patients, whether to distract children while they are visiting our emergency departments, outpatients or being treated on our wards, or to help relieve boredom or anxiety in older people or those living with dementia.”

The gifts will be used in wards at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate or William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, or in outpatient departments at Buckland Hospital in Dover or Royal Victoria Hospital in Folkestone.

Find the lists here: https://tinyurl.com/EKHUFTadultwishlist and https://tinyurl.com/EKHUFTchildrenswishlist

The charity has also signed up to Easyfundraising, meaning it receives a donation each time someone buys something online via the site. It costs the donor nothing and is simple to use, with 4,000 participating retailers.

For more information or to sign up visit: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/ekhcharity/?pageVersion=1&cat=cause-autosuggest&q=east%20kent%20hospitals%20