Derby County players surprise children at Royal Derby Hospital with special Christmas visit
Derby County players paid a surprise visit to patients at the Children’s Hospital at Royal Derby Hospital yesterday (13 December), bringing with them presents and plenty of festive cheer.
Manager Paul Warne along with club captain Curtis Davies, Korey Smith, Craig Forsyth, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing were among some of the Rams squad who helped put smiles on the faces of patients in Children’s Outpatients, Dolphin Ward and Paediatric Critical Care Unit.
Christmas certainly came early for patients who were given calendars, teddies and footballs as early Christmas gifts, as well as having the chance to pose for pictures and get autographs with their favourite players.
Members of the UHDB Play Team also set up a craft station where players joined youngsters to create Christmas cards and decorations.
Emma Barnes, Interim Paediatric and Neonatal Matron at UHDB, said it was brilliant to see so many smiling faces: “I’m sure this will be something the children involved won’t forget for a long time – there was so much laughter and happiness in the air.
“The Christmas visit is always a highlight for us as staff to give something extra special to our patients at this time of year, so we would all just like to say a huge thank you to Derby County for taking the time to visit us. It was a real Christmas treat!” 