The Sheffield United Football Club team helped to spread some Christmas joy across Sheffield Teaching Hospitals this week with a visit to Jessops Maternity Wing and Princess Royal Spinal Centre at the Northern General Hospital, seeing first hand the work of Sheffield Hospitals Charity.

 

Jordan Amissah, John Egan, Amel Ahmedhoozic, Matt Duke and Tamara Wilcock visited the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit at Jessops Maternity Wing, with a tour from matron Claire Howard and charity funded Family Support Assistant Holly Fearn.

Family members with new-borns in the unit were over the moon to meet the players and have their babies first football photos taken. Gifts were given to babies and families on the ward.

 

There was an emotional visit to the newly refurbished Bereavement Suite, where staff talked the players through the vital services offered to families at an incredibly difficult time. The suite was improved thanks to funds raised via the charity.

 

A second visit took place at the Princess Royal Spinal Cord Injuries Centre at the Northern General. Charity and NHS staff were joined by players Daniel Jebbison, Ben Osborn, James McAtee, Tommy Doyle, Manager Paul Heckingbottom and First Team Coach Jack Lester.

They chatted to patients, and Matron Jane Scothern led the tour where the team learnt about the specialist support, therapies and care given at the unit.

 

A physio sports session was taking place in the sports hall with a broad range of patients, all with different ages and abilities. A little magic happened when the players asked if they could get involved. They each took to a wheelchair and joined in a game with the patients.

Sam Earnshaw Head of Corporate Partnerships & Major Giving at Sheffield Hospitals Charity said, “To say it made their day was an understatement. It made mine too and was just wonderful to watch. The lads really were fantastic”