Christmas comes early to ward 6 courtesy of North East Ambulance Service

Hundreds of presents have landed in the playroom at a Newcastle children’s ward thanks to the generosity of staff at North East Ambulance Service.

North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) employs more than 2,500 staff and serves a population of 2.7 million people by handling all NHS 111 and 999 calls for the region, operating patient transport and ambulance response services.

Employees have donated presents and toys to children at Great North Children’s Hospital for more than a decade.

This year’s efforts raised around £900, which paid for nearly £200 in craft materials, as well as selection boxes, a mound of DVDs and a hoard of toys, including dolls, tool boxes, train sets, a toy kitchen.

The recipients are Ward 6 at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle, the paediatric emergency assessment unit, which cares for babies and children up to the age of 16.

NEAS conveys approximately 36,000 emergency patients to the RVI’s accident and emergency unit every year, as well as taking patients on 86,000 journeys to and from appointments at the hospital every year.

The collection was organised by NEAS receptionist Maureen Morien, who used to work as a children’s nurse, and domestic Maureen Jordan.

This year ‘the two Maureens’, as they are known at NEAS, raise money throughout the year through a lottery scheme and, as an added extra, this year they also held a month-long fundraiser in November, which including a Christmas raffle and Christmas jumper day.

“The ward I used to work in didn’t get anything for Christmas so I know how much it means to them,” said Maureen Morien, of Wallsend.

“It’s just amazing when you hand over the presents, especially when the kids are involved on the ward – it’s lovely to see their little faces light up and seeing the nurses’ faces light up too as we always get stuff for them as well.”

Maureen Jordan, of North Kenton, added: “It’s been excellent this year, people have been so generous. We just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has contributed to our total and hope the kiddies enjoy the presents we have bought them.”

Pip Cowper, staff nurse, said: “Coming into the Christmas period, it’s hard for anyone to be in hospital, let alone children.

“Anything to put a smile on their faces and give them a boost and a bit of distraction is great – and the variety of items is fantastic, we see kids up to the age of 16 so to have things that are suitable for the older children too is fantastic.

“We’d like to thank all the staff at North East Ambulance Service for their donations. It’s so generous of everyone, especially at this time of year.”