As this is the first blog of December, I make no apologies for turning to all things festive and seasonal this week.
Christmas is an incredibly important time for many people within the Trust and indeed across our communities, but I would like to say straight away that we also mark, celebrate and enjoy many other events throughout the year too such as Hannukah, which was earlier this week, Eid or Diwali.
Then there are those non-religious but important events such as Armistice Day, Mother’s and Father’s Days and the more recent suggestion that we take the anniversary of lockdown on March 16 as a national moment to pause and reflect on everything we have been through and everyone we have lost to the pandemic. The Trust actually marked this in 2021 and I am proud to say will be doing so from now on too.
It is my opinion that it is these annual ‘life events’ that bind us. Often providing a fixed time to look forward to and mark in the diary. Providing reasons to be together and a focus to take a moment and reflect at a time which cannot be rescheduled, postponed or moved when other things come up.
That is why, despite there being huge and sustained demand on colleagues working across our services and in all hospital and community settings, it’s important we do make time for things that can uplift us, remind us why we do what we do and just offer that moment to recharge and spend time on ourselves and our families.
Sometimes when it’s busy and people are waiting for treatment and care, it’s easy to forget that and just keep working and delivering. But colleagues have been doing that for so long and I am determined to support them and the wider health and social care system to make sure they are OK too.
So this week Christmas has arrived at ELHT and I hope it is helping to boost morale and make people feel better and add some much needed energy into our lives.
We began with the recording of the much-anticipated concert organised by celebrity choir master Gareth Malone on Sunday night and featured lots of ELHT colleagues. I was lucky to be invited to be in the audience and it was an incredible experience. I cannot wait for you all to see it when it is screened on BBC2 at 8pm on Thursday, 23 December. Tissues at the ready would be my advice.
We then switched on the festive lights at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital where a new ‘growing tree’ has been planted. It’s not huge yet but over the years as we return to it each December it will have increased in stature and become part of the Trust’s traditions.
I am thankful to the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Councillor Derek Hardman, and members of Darwen’s brilliant brass band for attending the event and, whilst we already had the cold and the snow, their contributions made it feel extra festive.
We were also blessed with a visit from probably the only other person who can claim to be as busy as NHS colleagues at this time of the year, but yet always manages to find time to stop and share his time with others without question. Father Christmas is always welcome at the Trust and it was brilliant to see him stop by the paediatric department before he left to say hello to the children in hospital and take some letters from them, ahead of the big day.
The event was organised by the hospital’s thriving charity ELHT&Me which raises money each year for a range of beneficiaries – but most notably for health and wellbeing initiatives for colleagues and patients as well as investing in things like the brilliant robotic surgery facilities I mentioned last week.
Christmas is obviously a critical time for fund raising for any charity and ELHT&Me is no different – so let me shamelessly plug some of the things they have organised:
· Give a Gift The charity is collecting presents via an Amazon wish list to try and ensure there is a present for everyone in hospital on Christmas Day who can’t celebrate at home with their families or loved ones. If you want to donate please use this link.
· Christmas Outfit Day On December 10 we’ll be encouraging all colleagues to ‘wear it festive’. We do this rather than Christmas jumper day to be inclusive as it’s not always possible for people to wear something in every team. You can join in the fun by buying a little festive pin badge here.
· Merry Miles You can swim, cycle, walk, run or toddle any number of ‘merry miles’ before the end of December but please do raise some sponsorship money as you do… and don’t forget if you are one of the first 100 people to register you’ll receive a Santa hat as a thank you.
· Christmas Raffle We do have a charity raffle running throughout December with the winner set to scoop a £1,000 cash prize before Christmas Day
· Virtual Christmas Tree If you have lost someone this year or want to remember someone special who is no longer here, you can add their name and a message or memory to our virtual tree here.
If you do anything at all to support ELHT&Me – whether it’s during the Christmas holidays or at any time during the year – please know what a huge difference the money makes to people’s lives and the work of the Trust. And I know we love seeing your fund raising so please remember to share photos on social media with @ELHT&Me.
Lastly, it would be remiss of me not to mention the new Omicron strain of Covid-19 which has led to some restrictions and measures being introduced to try and prevent the spread of infection. Please, do wear your face mask when out and about especially in crowded places such as shops or restaurants and on public transport. If you can, remain 2 metres away from others, keep washing or sanitising your hands and keep windows open where the weather permits to reduce the risk of catching the virus.
Take up your vaccination as soon as you’re able and get the booster too.
All of these things are easily sorted – and just might help ensure we all enjoy the best Christmas possible. And after last year I know we are all very much looking forward to that.
Thanks,
Martin