Festive cheer best medicine in wards

In the same-day pre-admission area, a corridor is filled with photos of staff members pinned against stars in a celebration of the team.

In the rehabilitation ward, staff have worked closely with patients to create decorations for the ward and craft Christmas cards.

The winning ward team from the Deck the Halls Christmas competition will win a hamper for their efforts, including how they have involved patients in spreading the Christmas cheer.

Across the hospital, nurses, doctors, allied health and support staff have also dug deep to help the Salvos.

Salvation Army Armadale Corps Envoy Paul Hetherington said the festive food donations from staff would be used to top up Christmas hampers for more than 50 families in need.

‘We are hoping to do more hampers this year with two charities closing in the area this year,’ Envoy Hetherington said.

‘The funding received from the government equates to less than $100 per family, so we rely on donations to make them more special.’

The funding will provide vouchers so families can buy fresh produce at Christmas.

He encouraged residents to place donations of non-perishable and Christmas-themed foods and drinks into donation bins at local shopping centres, or wrap a toy or gift and place it under the Kmart Wishing Tree.