Barts Charity’s Greatest Gift Appeal will deliver over 1000 gifts to all children and elderly patients staying in hospital over Christmas. Charity and hospital staff are encouraging everyone to support the appeal by making an online donation that will provide much-needed gifts and spread some festive joy, with anything raised over and above what’s needed to buy the gifts helping Barts Health staff provide care for patients all year round. 

Barts Charity is the dedicated charity for Whipps Cross, Newham, The Royal London, Mile End and St Bartholomew’s Hospitals which form Barts Health NHS Trust.    

Spreading festive cheer to patients   

Fullers Builders, a local business in Whipps Cross, have made a £250 donation to the Greatest Gift Appeal after their family member William spent time in hospital over the festive period. The family said: “William was in Whipps Cross Hospital over Christmas and New Year 2000 - while in hospital he received a small gift on Christmas Day, as did all the other residents on the ward. This small gesture went a long way to making people feel they are not alone on Christmas Day.”  

Hospital staff are encouraging donations 

Hospital staff are encouraging members of the public to donate and make a difference to patients in hospital this Christmas. Jenna, from the Play Team at The Royal London Hospital says:   

“On the lead up to Christmas, a 6-year-old patient told me he didn’t believe in Father Christmas anymore as he doesn’t visit hospitals. I asked him what he would like from him in case he did come to the hospital, and he said a remote-control car. Thanks to people’s generous donations, I was able to find this for the patient and according to the nurses on Christmas day, the boy’s face lit up with biggest smile when he was presented with a remote-control car. When I returned on shift, he was telling me all about it and how he now firmly believes in Father Christmas again.”  

How to support Barts Charity’s Greatest Gift Appeal

To support the Greatest Gift Appeal and find out more go to www.bartscharity.org.uk/christmas. The difference that can be made:  

  • £5.50 could buy a rattle to bring a smile to a baby’s face.
  • £11.50 could buy a gift set to pamper an elderly patient.
  • £22 could buy a game to entertain a child and their siblings on Christmas Day. 
  • £54 could buy a portable DVD player so patients can still watch their favourite festive films.

Donations can also be made over the phone: 020 7618 1720

About Barts Charity

Barts Charity is a healthcare innovation funder, which funds extraordinary healthcare for 2.5m people in east London, and beyond.  

Working alongside the Barts Health NHS Trust's group of hospitals and Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (part of Queen Mary University London), we fund world-leading research, state-of-the-art equipment and innovative healthcare projects which go above and beyond what the NHS can provide. 

In the year leading up to March 2019, the Charity’s funding awards totalled £31million and at March 31, 2019 there were over 140 Barts Charity funded medical research projects in progress.      

Visit bartscharity.org.uk, contact comms@bartscharity.org.uk or call 020 7618 1720 for more information.