Trainee Advance Clinical Practitioner at Care Plus Group.

Working in the community urgent care team over Christmas is always a unique experience. Although it’s a special time of year for many, our service remains essential because patients still need timely, acute assessment and diagnosis to prevent deterioration and keep them safe in their own homes.

Illness doesn’t pause for the festive season, and my role helps ensure that people receive the right care at the right time avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions when it’s safe and appropriate to treat them at home. Working closely with my multidisciplinary colleagues means we can respond quickly, make informed clinical decisions, and support patients holistically during what can be a vulnerable time.

While I do miss being with my family over the festive period, they understand how important this work is. There is something incredibly rewarding about knowing that we’re helping patients stay well, comfortable, and safe in familiar surroundings, especially over Christmas.

My favourite part of working during the festive season is the sense of gratitude and connection. Patients are often particularly appreciative, and even small moments like a friendly chat or seeing a home decorated for Christmas bring a warmth to the day and remind me why I love this role.

The best way the public can support us is by being kind and patient, using NHS services appropriately, and checking in on vulnerable neighbours or relatives. Taking simple steps to stay well helps ease winter pressures and means we can focus on those who urgently need our care. Working together with the community makes all the difference.

The public can make a real difference over the festive season by looking out for vulnerable neighbours and relatives simple actions like checking in, offering help with shopping or prescriptions, or providing company can greatly reduce loneliness and prevent small issues becoming crises.

People can also support others by signposting them to local services in Grimsby such as Age UK North East Lincolnshire for social support, Connect NEL for 24/7 community signposting, or warm spaces across the area including Age UK Grimsby, Cornerstone Community, and West Marsh Community Centre, which offer safe places to keep warm and connect with others.

Volunteering through Take Part NEL, donating to charities like Help Feed Grimsby or CARE, and supporting unpaid carers by linking them with services such as the Carers’ Support Centre can also have a huge impact.

These small acts of kindness help strengthen our community, reduce isolation, and ensure vulnerable people receive the support they need ultimately helping reduce avoidable deterioration or hospital admissions and allowing healthcare teams like ours to focus on those with the greatest needs over Christmas.

Today, our Holiday Heroes working over Christmas are the catering team at The Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.

Pictured from left at the hospital’s Café Bar Plus are Yvonne Brown, Kath Brown, Julie Wright, James Knapton, Wendy Fletcher and Suzanne Greathead – who all love creating a good atmosphere for patients unable to celebrate Christmas at home. 

James said: “We try to our best make a difference to patients by generating a festive, homely atmosphere.”

Kath added: “We care about our patients and staff and believe it’s important to work over Christmas.”

Wendy explained she plans to celebrate Christmas a few days later, with family members, on her days off.

Catering Manager Sue Hodgson said: “We are very proud of our long-service catering team who play a vital role in creating a welcoming environment for patients, visitors, and staff. From light snacks to hearty meals, we aim to provide comfort and care through good food, especially during the festive season when many patients can’t be at home. We are incredibly privileged to have such wonderful staff ensuring good nutrition and hydration for everyone coming into hospital over the festive period.

Name, job title and department

Leon Pinkney, Delivery Suite Coordinator, Maternity at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.

What is Christmas Day like at work in your role?

Christmas Day is very much the same as it is all year round, we never close, we provide a 24/7 service. Women go into labour throughout the festive period day and night, we are here to support them and facilitate their births.

What do you enjoy about working during the festive season?

Midwifery is a really special job to do at any time of the year, but it is extra rewarding around Christmas time. Everyone is in high spirits around Christmas, and this seems to make the job we do just seem that little bit more magic.

I’ll be working in our out-of-hours GP service during the Christmas period.

These services are crucial for ensuring that people have access to timely medical advice and treatment when their usual healthcare providers are unavailable. They also help manage the higher demand for medical care during the holiday season, prevent unnecessary emergency department visits, and ensure patients with ongoing health issues can continue to receive care, all while reducing the strain on more critical services.

There’s real pride in knowing that I am playing an important role in ensuring patients have access to care, no matter the time of year.

When the public uses these services responsibly and efficiently, it helps ensure that out-of-hours GPs and healthcare staff can focus on the most urgent and critical cases, rather than being overwhelmed with non-urgent issues.

Also, ensuring that vulnerable people are stocked up on essential medications or medical supplies before Christmas can reduce the likelihood of needing emergency care.

I wish everyone a happy holiday!

I’m a hotel services supervisor within Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust. My role is to support and coordinate our facilities teams across our hospitals and other sites, making sure essential services run smoothly every day of the year.

The continuity of patient care is vital to ensure that every patient receives the attention and support they need. Over Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, our teams are still here ensuring wards are clean, meals are prepared and delivered, patients feel cared for, and clinical staff are supported.

Our presence helps keep services safe, dignified and welcoming during what can be a very difficult time for many of our patients.

What service do you provide and why is it important to patients?

Our facilities teams work with the ward-based teams to provide vital services including housekeeping, catering, portering, reception and general hotel services. These roles are fundamental to patient care, even though they often work behind the scenes.

A clean and comfortable environment and nutritious meals all make a real difference to patients’ wellbeing and recovery – especially in a mental health setting. Over the festive period, when patients may be feeling more vulnerable or away from loved ones, these small but important comforts can mean a lot.

What’s your favourite aspect about working over Christmas?

Christmas highlights our teamwork and dedication, as we support each other and put our patients first.

Everyone who comes in over Christmas has chosen to be here to support patients and colleagues, and that really shows.

There’s a strong feeling of pride across the facilities team. Our housekeepers, porters, cooks and supervisors alike know we’re helping to make Christmas a little brighter and more familiar for our patients. Even simple things, like a special festive meal or a friendly conversation can have a big impact.

If you’d like to wish readers a Merry Christmas, please provide a suitable message.

On behalf of the whole facilities team at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, I’d like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

A huge thank you to all our colleagues working over Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Whether you’re keeping wards clean, preparing meals, supporting patient movements or supervising services, you are an essential part of the care we provide. Thank you for everything you do and for being such an incredible team.

For 25 years, Kim Ashcroft has been a familiar and much-loved face at North Tyneside General Hospital. Now a catering supervisor in the hospital’s busy restaurant, Kim first joined the team in 1999 as a Catering Assistant, preparing meals for both patients and staff. Over the years, her dedication, kindness, and reliability have made her an integral part of the hospital community.

This Christmas is an especially meaningful one for Kim, as she celebrates an extraordinary milestone — working her 25th Christmas Day in a row. While many people look forward to spending the day at home, Kim embraces the opportunity to support others.

Reflecting on this achievement, Kim said:
“I absolutely love working Christmas Day. My colleagues work incredibly hard all year, and they truly deserve the chance to spend this special day with their families. It’s also important that we keep the restaurant open for our clinical staff, who continue to care for patients around the clock.

“Christmas is such a special time at North Tyneside General Hospital. You see so many people — staff, patients, and visitors. For some, it can be a difficult or emotional time of year, and I love being a friendly face for anyone who might need a moment of kindness.

“I’ll be spending my Christmas morning serving breakfast for staff, patients, and visitors until 11am. Then I’ll head home and start preparing my own Christmas dinner. My son lives in America and can’t visit often, so I’ll be spending the afternoon FaceTiming with him. That’s my favourite part of the day.”

Wayne Roper, kitchen superintendent and Kim’s line manager, shared his appreciation:
“Kim is a true asset to our trust. Her commitment, positivity, and compassion shine through every single day, and her dedication over the festive period is nothing short of remarkable.”