Hospital staff to dish up thousands of meals for patients over Christmas

Staff at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals will be providing thousands of Christmas meals to patients who cannot be at home over the holiday period.

More than 1,000 Christmas Day meals will be served to the bed-bound – with about 7,200 dished up across Christmas in all.

Thanks to the supporters of the Guy’s and St Thomas’ charity, a special menu for lunch and dinner will be served on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

As well as a traditional lunch with all the trimmings on Christmas Day, about 1,200 patients will receive fresh orange juice and croissants for breakfast, afternoon tea with Christmas cake and an individual buffet box.

Staff working on Christmas Day will also receive a free breakfast, lunch and Christmas cake.

Marcel Dueren, catering central production manager at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “Our catering teams have been quietly beavering away behind the scenes for the last two months in preparation for the big day.

“Nobody wants to be in hospital during the festive season so we want it to be as enjoyable as it can be.

“We’re also taking special care of our youngest patients at Evelina London Children’s Hospital by providing smaller portions of lunch and buffet boxes, and have arranged for meals to go out to various community sites.”

Around 1,600 gifts – mainly toiletry sets – will be delivered by staff to patients in hospital and those housebound in the community, thanks to funding from the Guy’s & St Thomas’ charity.

The charity has also provided 17 decorated Christmas trees which are on display around the Trust.

About 150 children and young people being cared for by Evelina London in hospital and in the community will receive a gift, thanks to support from Evelina London Children’s Charity.

Kieron Boyle, chief executive of the Guy’s & St Thomas’ charity, said: “It is our great pleasure to be able to bring a little joy and comfort to patients at this special time of year.

“All year round, and throughout the pandemic, the dedicated staff across Guy’s & St Thomas’ have provided exceptional care for this amazing community of ours.

“Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we hope that the festive season might be that little bit brighter, too.