The Midland Metropolitain Hospital in Sandwell aims to be more than just a traditional hospital and extend its links within the community and that was demonstrated by newtwork working with local charities that resulted in a party this Christmas Day for those who otherwise would of been alone.
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NewsTranscript
00:00We're at the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, SMEVC, and who've we got? What's your name?
00:06My name's Jane and I lead the work around public and community engagement for the Trust.
00:11Cool, and Vanya?
00:13So I run the Trust Press Office.
00:15Vanya, you've been with the Trust a while, haven't you?
00:19Longer, I think Noah was a wee lad when I joined the Trust, yes.
00:23So what's happening today then? I can hear some music and a bit of party vibe in the background.
00:27What's happening?
00:28We're working with four local organisations, four local charities,
00:33and they've each nominated five guests to spend some hours with us on Christmas Day.
00:38So the people that you can hear having fun next door, they usually spend Christmas alone,
00:46and that may not be their choice. Circumstances have driven them to that.
00:50So today we're just going to have a little bit of fun for a couple of hours.
00:54We've filled their bellies.
00:57They've had a glass of fizz, non-alcoholic, tea and coffee,
01:02and we're just about to launch into some party games, so a good old-fashioned Christmas fun.
01:06Yeah, but it's a good bit of fun.
01:08And I was even on the radio the other day,
01:10the amount of people spending Christmas alone has gone up, hasn't it, massively?
01:14Well, the thing I assumed incorrectly,
01:16that we would have lots of people of a certain age in the room today,
01:20and actually we haven't.
01:22We've got people from 30 through to 80 that have joined us today,
01:26across all of those generations,
01:28and so what they're telling us today is that, you know,
01:31they've lost loved ones, or their families live far away,
01:35or they don't have family or friends,
01:38which is why they're connected to some really inspirational charities,
01:42like St Albans, our colleagues and friends at St Albans.
01:47And so they've nominated them to come here today,
01:50just spend a few hours with us.
01:52I think it's, for us, it's about paying it forward.
01:55Yeah.
01:55This hospital has been a long time coming.
01:58Yes, it has.
01:59But it is part of a community.
02:01Yeah.
02:02Our hashtag is more than a hospital,
02:04and we genuinely believe that.
02:06Those of us that work here work with our heart,
02:09and so the fact that we can give up a little bit of our time
02:12and put a smile on people's faces is the best Christmas present anybody could have.
02:17So what charities are actually involved then?
02:20So we're working with some great local charities today.
02:22So we've got an umbrella organisation called
02:25Sandwell Council for Voluntary Organisations, SCEVO.
02:29Kim's here today giving up some time.
02:31And then we're working with St Albans Community Centre,
02:34Frassers Lane, New Biggins, and the Dorothy Park Centre.
02:39And they're all local charitable organisations
02:41who have nominated five of their people that use their facilities
02:46to come and spend Christmas Day with us.
02:48There's still a lot of good, good people out there, isn't there?
02:51Doing good, good things.
02:53Amazing.
02:54Like yourself and like Vanya.
02:56Well done, ladies.
02:57Thank you and all the best and enjoy your Christmas
02:59when you get a chance to have a little bit of time to yourself.
03:02Merry Christmas.
03:03Are you all having a good time?
03:06And what do you think of the gang for what they've put on for you here today?
03:09Wonderful.
03:10I think it's wonderful and I'd love to give something back.
03:13Would you?
03:13Thank you, yeah, I definitely would.
03:15I think by you being here,
03:16that's all they can ask, isn't it, really?
03:20Have you all been visited by Santa this morning?
03:22No.
03:24I've not been good this year.
03:24That's a disgrace.
03:26I've not been good enough this year.
03:27I believe Santa's on his way.
03:29Oh, cool.
03:31We'll see then, we'll see.
03:33Mrs Claus, you've been helping out, haven't you?
03:35I have, yes.
03:36And it's just a nice thing to do at Christmas, isn't it?
03:38I'd like to help out, it's a huge help.
03:41Santa Claus is on his way.
03:44We've got a new little elf here, Mrs Claus.
03:46You can be the elf next year then.