Our patients and staff were treated to an early Christmas present when Santa and the Grinch came to visit Queen’s Hospital, handing out gifts and spreading festive joy.

John Junnix from Lets Party, an Essex-based company providing children's party packages, organised the visit as a thank you after his daughter was cared for at Queen’s Hospital. John asked if he, alongside Ricknroll Entertainment Mascots, could visit some of our children’s departments with Santa and the Grinch characters to help lift some of our patient’s spirits.

John thanked the staff who had cared for his daughter, and said: “The Children’s department here was fantastic with my daughter, and I knew I just wanted to give back to the team somehow. The aim was just to bring a smile on the children’s faces, and we have definitely done that today.”

Lola Smith, matron for our Children’s Emergency Department, said: “For me this is about people within our community wanting to give back after having a positive experience and receiving great care in our hospitals. It’s amazing they’re giving up their own time to help cheer up some of our patients over the difficult Christmas period. It’s brought so much joy to us all, so a huge thank you to John, Let’s Party, and Ricknroll Entertainment Mascots for offering to come in today.”