Meet the Leeds hospital staff who will be caring for others at Christmas
It’s a time when many of us are surrounded by family and friends while tucking into our festive lunch on Christmas Day.
But spare a thought of the dedicated health workers who will be trying their best to bring compassion and Christmas cheer to those spending the time in hospital.
Babies will be born, children on the wards will have an extra special visit from Father Christmas and patients will continue to come through the doors at emergency departments.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is shining a spotlight on those working during the festive season with their 12 Faces of Christmas campaign.
And here are just some of those who will be continuing to care for patients in Leeds hospitals throughout the most wonderful time of the year.
Emily is a midwife in the Lotus Team, which supports families to give birth either at home or in the Lotus Midwifery Unit at Leeds General Infirmary. S
She said: “It’s a nice atmosphere, everyone makes an extra effort to be festive and there are plenty of treats and Christmas hats. There’s always a good buffet or Christmas lunch to look forward to.
“I think most people would prefer not to have a baby on Christmas Day but they come when they want to. Some tears there might just be one or two, but other years we’ve had lots. Families appreciate the extra effort – we have presents and little keepsakes for the Christmas babies.
“I’ve got two little girls at home, aged one and four, so we’ll make Christmas Eve special with lots of baking and fun, then they’ll be off to family with their dad for Christmas dinner, and we’ve got plans to spend Boxing Day with family.”
Jay is a staff nurse on the Neuro Intensive Care Unit at Leeds General Infirmary.
He said: “I enjoy my job, and I’m grateful to be part of such a supportive and dedicated team.
“We care for many people at the end of their lives, and a big part of what we do is supporting their relatives—making sure they feel accompanied, cared for, and never alone during such a tender and emotional season. Our team truly shines when it comes to family support and compassionate care.
“Last Christmas Day, we gave patients and their families small, thoughtful gifts, and we decorated the ward to bring a warm and festive atmosphere. Even though it can be an incredibly difficult time for families, we try to create moments of love, comfort, and togetherness—little reminders of the spirit of Christmas.
“My family is in the Philippines, so before my shift I’ll video call them and share a bit of Christmas cheer across the miles. And after work, I’ll be going out for a celebratory dinner with friends so we can enjoy our own festive moment together.”
Hajra is a special feeds technician at Leeds Children’s Hospital, part of a small team responsible for making and distributing milk feeds for babies and children, including The Neonatal Unit for their tiniest patients.
She said: “Christmas Day will be a little quieter than normal as lots of patients spend Christmas at home if they’re able to. I’ll start by logging in to check the feed requirements for the day. Then I’ll print out individual labels for each feed and start making up the feeds. Once made, the feeds are delivered to the wards or stored securely ready for the nursing team to collect.
“It’s our role to make sure each patient gets the correct feed that has been made to their specific requirements. We’re usually in the background so unless your child has special dietary requirements – you wouldn’t really know we’re here.”
Hajra often chooses to work the Christmas shift because although she doesn’t celebrate Christmas, she enjoys getting into the Christmas spirit along with patients and colleagues.
“We wear Christmas jumpers and get dressed up,” she says. “Everyone is having Christmas dinner and the patients have lots of presents to open, it’s just a really nice day to work.” In the afternoon Hajra will be heading home to enjoy a meal with her family.
Jonny is a physiotherapist for the Older People’s service
He said: “We help get older people back moving again. We help people get back home as often as we can, and give them a good quality of life.
“They might have complex social needs, they might have been in bed for a long time, they might have had a stroke or deconditioned in their own home. It can be busy in the run-up to Christmas because we’re trying to support people to get home if they can.
“Christmas doesn’t bother me really, it’s never been a massive priority for me. I like to let other people enjoy their family time. I’m quite happy to do it – and I get to order pizza. We have a nice day and I enjoy working with colleagues. There tends to be a good vibe on the wards, with lots of chocolates and sweets, people playing music and families coming in.”