Players from Derbyshire County Cricket Club pay Christmas visit to Florence Nightingale Community Hospital
Players and staff from Derbyshire County Cricket Club visited Florence Nightingale Community Hospital on Monday, to spread festive cheer and brighten the spirits of patients and staff.
Club Captain, David Lloyd, was joined by fellow team members, Zak Chappell, Harry Came, Brooke Guest, Aneurin Donald, Martin Andersson, Harry Moore, Samit Patel, Yousaf Bin Naeem and Head of Cricket, Mickey Arthur, as they spent time with patients and their loved ones during their visit to Derby's Community Hospital.
The visit was arranged by Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity as part of their work to enhance the patient and staff experience at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton Foundation Trust.
The players met with patients, who were being cared for at the hospital on wards three and four. They shared stories of their love for sport and posed for photos with the players.
Jimmy Drew, Club Commercial Manager said: "Making a visit to the Florence Nightingale Community Hospital has been a humbling experience for everyone here at the club.
"Christmas is a time for kindness and connection and we hope that our visit lifted some spirits. It was great to see everyone smiling and enjoying the chats. As the club's official charity partner, we are proud to be supporting Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity which does so much to help patients and staff."
Jill Matthews, Chief Officer at Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity said: "We are incredibly grateful to the players and staff from Derbyshire County Cricket Club for their visit. "It was great to see the positive impact that this type of visit has on our patients and staff. It is moments like these that make a real difference to our patients and staff, especially at this time of the year."
During the visit, the players and staff handed out signed mini cricket bats and balls to patients with one patient, asking for a quick game in the corridor. The charity hopes to work with more local sports clubs in 2025 to enable them to increase the engagement with staff and patients.