The annual appeal to give every patient at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital a gift on Christmas Day has been launched.

Each year, the N&N Hospitals Charity’s Send a Smile with Santa appeal collects more than 1,000 presents kindly donated by the members of the public and businesses across Norfolk.

These are then distributed to patients, both young and old, who will spend Christmas in hospital and are unable to celebrate at home with their families.

This year, the charity is asking people who would like to give a present to a patient, to either purchase an item from the list below and drop it off at the hospital or make a small donation online at our website which could then be used by the charity to purchase a gift.

All gifts must be new and unwrapped and can be dropped off from now until 5 December at the hospital’s West Inpatients Reception Desk which is open 24/7 or at the Charity Hub East Atrium Monday to Friday 9-4pm.

Suitable gifts for adults are:

• Toiletry gift sets (male and female)
• Colouring Books for Adults
• Puzzle Books for Adults
• Flavoured Teas
• Boxes of Chocolates or Boxes of Biscuits
• Gift Drink Mug

For children and young people:

• Lego for girl/boys
• Items suitable for babies – 18 months old
• Items for 18 months – 5 years
• Gifts for teenagers including fidget toys or other suitable items
• Sensory toys for children with complex needs

Louise Cook, Head of Fundraising, said: “Send a Smile is now in its sixth year and each year we are so grateful for the wonderful gifts given to us which we know make a huge difference to our patients. We know that people have been fantastic supporting the NHS through the pandemic and we are asking you again to help us make Christmas special for those patients in hospital on Christmas Day. If you are purchasing an item please do look at the list as this has been put together or consider making a donation which we will use to purchase a present. For example, £5 could help us to buy a toiletries’ gift set which will be wrapped up and given out on Christmas morning.”

If you would like to support Christmas at the hospital, please make a donation here www.nnhospitalscharity.org.uk

For more information about the work of the hospital charity go to www.nnhospitalscharity.org.uk or email fundraising@nnuh.nhs.uk or call 01603 287107