Christmas is coming to the Trust
It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas here at Medway, and as we approach December, we are delighted to announce an exciting programme of events taking place in the run-up to the big day.
Christmas decoration challenge
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Our annual Christmas decoration challenge has returned!
There will be two prizes, one for the best decorated ward and one for the best decorated non-ward area.
The challenge will start on Thursday 1 December and finish on Wednesday 14 December.
To be in with a chance of winning, please take a photo of the fabulous decorations in your wards and departments and email it to communications.medwayft@nhs.net by 12pm on the closing date. Please make sure you include which area or ward you are on.
When you put up your decorations (no earlier than Thursday 1 December please), be sure to follow all the infection control and fire safety regulations below.
Good luck!
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Christmas decorations infection control guidance
- All wards and departments are free to display decorations during the festive period.
- Any cards or items colleagues want to keep post-Christmas, which can’t be cleaned, need to be displayed high up and out of reach.
- Wards are allowed to have Christmas trees as pre Covid.
- Decorations can be put up in the bays, but please make sure they are wipeable.
- If there is an outbreak in a bay then the decorations in that bay will have to come down. There is no need to quarantine them as long as they are thoroughly cleaned.
Christmas decorations fire safety regulations
- Decorations should be taken down as soon as possible after Boxing Day, and no later than New Year’s Day. Decorations should be kept to a minimum, and should not be affixed to, or be in close proximity to electrical fittings.
- The Christmas tree and all decorations must be flame-retardant. The Christmas tree should be artificial only as real trees have oils, which are very flammable.
- The location, in which the tree and any accompanying displays are planned, should not compromise or encroach upon fire escape routes. They should not be sited next to fire exits or along exit routes.
- Decorations should only be displayed under direct view of staff i.e. within the department areas; no decorations are to be installed outside your areas or within hospital streets.
- Decorative lights should be limited to the Christmas tree and staff base areas and should be battery powered only.
- Christmas trees should be anchored firmly, so that they do not fall over and cause slips, trips or falls or hider movement of patients.
- Naked flames / candles are strictly forbidden.
- Lights should be switched off overnight, or when the area is left unattended.
- Aerosols of any sort, including decorative snow must not be used.
- Working at heights, must be considered at all times when erecting decorations and therefore this means only staff trained should be working at height. Stepladders must be maintained at all times and displaying a current visible inspection sticker.
Please be safe, but should a Christmas tree fire occur please follow normal Trust fire procedures and your fire evacuation plan.
The implications of not following guidance can mean:
- risk of a fire occurring
- risk to staff, patients and visitors
- risk of prosecution by the fire enforcing authorities.
Christmas Jumper Day
This year we are supporting Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day on Thursday 8 December.
So dig out your most festive jumper, t-shirt, dress, shirt, trousers, skirt, socks, woolly hat, scarf, leggings – whatever you want. It doesn’t have to be new. Yule look woolly wonderful. Please only wear a jumper if appropriate for your role.
Details of how to make your donation will be available soon.
Christmas Lunch
Below Deck Dining (Level 1, Purple Zone) will be getting festive with their menus in a couple of weeks. Keep an eye out in all our usual internal communications channels for the details. Members of our Executive Team will be popping down to help serve up the lunches too.
There will be a traditional Christmas menu available on Christmas Day, Sunday 25 December.
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Christmas Light Switch On
Our trees are arriving on site next week so keep an eye out for when we will be turning the lights on this year.
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Grand Christmas Raffle
Still time to buy your tickets for this year’s Grand Christmas Raffle in aid of our hospital charity. Pop along to our volunteers shop in the main entrance to pick them up. £1 a ticket with lots of great prizes to win. The raffle will be drawn on Friday 9 December.
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Christmas Fair
Our annual fair is back and takes place on Friday 9 December in the main entrance 11am to 2pm. Come along, browse the wonderful range of gifts on sale and do a little Christmas shopping! All proceeds from the Christmas Fair will help fund projects to improve patient experience.
If you're having a pre-Christmas clear out and looking to donate items to charity, then please consider supporting your hospital charity and donate them to us. Email medwayft.charity@nhs.net.
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Christmas Carols
Our Chaplaincy Team is hoping to lead Carols in the Atrium (Level 2, Green Zone) this year as we head into Christmas. Keep an eye out for further details on how you can join in.
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