Christmas came early for patients at West Middlesex University Hospital as Harlequins FC, Brentford FC and the England Rugby Sevens teams arrived for surprise visits. The teams visited various adult and children’s wards, posing for pictures and signed autographs for patients and their families.
Staff on the wards remarked that while Christmas was a difficult time of year for many patients, the visit significantly lifted spirits across the wards.
One patient found the visit particularly exciting. 81-year-old Keith Browning, currently in Marble Hill 1 Ward, is a massive rugby fan. Keith lives in sheltered accommodation in Brentford but has been hospitalised for tests on his stomach. Keith said: “Meeting the Rugby Sevens really means a lot to me. I remember their ground from donkey’s years ago and the Rugby League and Union playing back in the day. I used to always go to the games but then I lost my eyesight and couldn’t anymore, so the fact that they’ve come to me and I’ve met some of them today is so lovely.”
Along with the Trust, we would like to thank Harlequin FC, The Harlequins Foundation, Brentford FC, and England Rugby Sevens once again for giving up their time to visit our hospital. A visit like this goes a long way in making this time of year a bit brighter for patients, families and staff.
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