Hospital Santa helps city's needy families

Hundreds of Waikato Hospital staff and some patients arrived at the first Waikato Hospital-wide Christmas celebration bearing gifts for vulnerable Hamilton children.

The gifts were piled under a giant Christmas 'remembrance' tree, laden with decorations bought by hospital staff in memory of loved ones, in the Acute Services Building atrium at the hospital.

All gifts and money raised from decorations were presented to the Salvation Army Hamilton city community ministries by Santa - clinical unit leader for Internal Medicine, Dr Clyde Wade.

The Salvation Army will distribute these among some 250 families this Christmas season.

The Salvation Army Hamilton City community ministries has a long history of providing an extensive range of social services to families in Hamilton.

"Some of the families we will be helping this Christmas have eight to 10 children," Hamilton Salvation Army Major Lindsay Chisholm said.

"This contribution will help them dramatically,"

"Thank you very much to Waikato Hospital staff for your generous donation," .

Dr Wade praised the Salvation Army for the long-standing contribution they have made not only to the wider community, but also to Waikato Hospital.

"The Salvation Army has been a friend to this hospital and those within it for a very long time," he said.

"Every Sunday morning they play music on the grass outside.

"It's one of the main things I enjoy about ward rounds on the weekend."

The hospital's Christmas celebration, which was attended by close to 300 hospital employees and a number of patients, was organised by a small team of Internal Medicine staff who spent countless voluntary hours in preparation for the festive season event.