C2 - Wedmesday, December 24, 1980 - North Shore News

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Christmas in hospital

By CAROLE STAFFORD

It's not the best place to spend the holiday. Few
would choose to be sick, depressed or laid up in bed
with a broken bone. Not too many would even choose
to have a baby at this time of year. But staff at Lions
Gate Hospital do all they can to create a cheerful at-
mosphere and make Christmas as pleasant as possible

the pediatric ward where
often only four or five
children remain on the unit
Christmas Day.

“Atany time, we don’t just
treat children -- we treat
families,” says Head Nurse

for ir patients Joanne Kell. “So at
° Christmas we make a special

The census is usually overnight passes in order to’ effort to arrange for a family
to have a meal with their

child or spend time together
m some way. The unit is

down over Christmas. As
many as_ possible are
discharged or given day or

spend time with = their

This is especially true on

SANTA AND HIS REINDEER visit the ward party om ome of the psychiatric units.
Left to right: Occupational therapist Aume James, nurses Pat Locwen, Jean Irciand,

Sytvia Todd and Corriuee Richmoad; social worker David Robinson plays Santa. (lan
Smith photo)

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open al} day and brothers
and sisters are encouraged to
visit along with parents.”

Babies will be born when
they're ready -- but oddily
enough, the census on
maternity often drops off
too. Sull, the pregnant
population remains = una-
predictable.

Staff and patients, when
able, spend a lot of Gme and
effort decorating the
hospital for Christmas.
Every ward has a tree,
beautifully trimmed — often
with hand-made ornaments
~— and few wmdows and walis
escape the paintbrush. Some
rather amazing artistic talent
frequently turns up!

As well, service organiza-
tions, choral groups and
departmeént stores donate
presents and give perfor-
mances throughout the
hospital over the holhday
season.

And some of the wards
hold parties, complete with
entertainment and a fan-
tastic spread prepared by the
patients themselves -- with a
litde help from the staff.
Some of the enlertainment
is home grown too — though
the attraction here tends to
rest more in fun and good
humor than un expertise...

Of course, the hospital
must be staffed ‘round the
clock, hohday or no, and,
while they might rather be
with their famihes, those
who must work generally do
so cheerfully — and often
find it one of the most en-

women

joyable work-days of the
year.

Traditionally, on
Chnstmas Day © senior

hospital personnel make

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rounds throughout’ the
hospital, wishing everyone a
Merry Christmas.

For most, it is ‘as merry as
can be expected’.

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