Can you help get Christmas all boxed up at Milton Keynes Hospital?

The extraordinary generosity of the people of Milton Keynes was so overwhelming that every patient did receive a gift - and so Lisa has decided to it all again this year.

Lisa works at Milton Keynes University Hospital and cares for older people as her chosen speciality.

“I got a phone call from a patient who was with us over Christmas last year and she was so touched when she woke up and saw the shoebox full of presents by her bedside that she asked to donate one herself this year - I guess that’s what Christmas is really about,” Lisa says.

The aim is to ensure that older patients do not get forgotten over Christmas; “Some of our patients don’t have friends and family living locally. We’ve also got patients on the ward who’re living with dementia so it’s important to understand what kind of gifts will be most appreciated - the beauty of the shoeboxes is that the lid comes off so you keep the surprise, while at the same time we know we’ve made the right choice for each patient.”

Anyone can contribute to Lisa’s appeal and so far a staggering 282 shoeboxes have been promised.

It’s not too late to help, so if you would like to donate a single gift - or a whole shoebox full of them - email