Christmas is the season for fun, laughter and a bit of festive magic for all the family. However, for some of the most unwell children, hospital really is the safest place to be. While your local hospitals can’t always provide home on Christmas Day, NHS staff do their best to bring some Christmas cheer and comfort on the children’s wards during the festive period.

The community nursing team also visit many children at home with long-term illnesses who need some extra care. This includes people like ten-year-old Bobby Griffin from Poole who was born with a deletion of chromosome 14Q.

Bobby lives with a gastric tube for feeding and has delayed development that means he’s unable to walk and talk like other children his age can. Despite these challenges, Bobby is a happy little boy who loves nothing more than humming away to nursery rhymes and people sitting with him.

Parents, Leanne and Jamie are provided with additional care four times a week and Bobby will be looked after by the Community Nurses and the Paediatrics Team from University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust until he is 18-years-old.

Mum, Leanne says: “There have been times when my husband and I have talked about what if he has to stay in hospital over Christmas. We have been very close to it but thankfully we have escaped that so far. To have to separate the family at such a magical time of year would be devastating. My heart goes out to any parent who has this scenario. Christmas is about being together and there simply is nowhere like home.”

“We are so grateful for the support and care from his nurses who answer our call for just about anything. They give so much of their time to support people like Bobby and families like us. If this Christmas, we can do anything to support them and other children needing the help of our hospitals, we are only more than happy to do it.”

If you would like to show your support to more families like the Griffins this Christmas, please donate below. A donation could help fund things like activity packs, presents and games for children on our wards and every penny raised will also go on to supporting many more children with new equipment and items beyond the festive season.