CPFT patients receive presents from kind-hearted Council staff

Patients at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust’s Fulbourn Hospital have been given a Christmas boost.

Staff and Councillors at South Cambridgeshire District Council have kindly donated more than 100 presents that will go to people who are currently being treated at the Trust’s mental health inpatient wards.

Colleagues at the authority – co-ordinated by the Personal Assistant Team - set up an appeal and either donated a present or gave money towards the buying of presents.

They then wrapped them all before Cllr Peter Fane, chair of South Cambridgeshire District Council, and personal assistant Elaine Field presented them to Alex Gordon, fundraising manager for CPFT’s charity, and Head to Toe and Clive Brown, treasurer of Friends of Fulbourn.

Alex said: “This is the 15th year that staff and Councillors from South Cambridgeshire District Council have donated presents and we can’t thank them enough.

“The inpatient wards at Fulbourn Hospital treat and care for people with a wide range of mental health conditions. Some patients may not get many visitors this festive period so to be able to give them a present will be a real boost to them.”

Anne Streeter, an activities co-ordinator at Mulberry 1, one of the seven inpatient wards at the hospital, said “These beautiful presents will certainly bring some smiles to both our patients and staff this Christmas.”

Cllr Fane, said: "We're thrilled to have donated these gifts, for such an important cause. Every year, lots of generous staff at South Cambridgeshire District Council buy an extra gift to donate in this way as part of their own Christmas tradition. We know that many of those staying in hospital over Christmas unfortunately won't receive any visitors - so we hope the gifts will bring some comfort. I want to thank all our staff who have organised and supported this festive initiative."

Anyone interested in finding out more about Head to Toe which supports the patients and staff at CPFT can contact charity@cpft.nhs.uk

CPFT, which employs more than 4,500 staff, provides community physical health services for older people and adults with long term conditions, mental health services, children community services in Peterborough and learning disability services. The Trust is also renowned for its research and development work.