ROYAL Surrey County Hospital has launched its 2017 shoebox appeal to help make Christmas special for those patients who will spend the festive season in hospital.

The trust is appealing for people to once again put a couple of extra gifts in their shopping trolley for those who may not receive a visit from their friends and loved ones on December 25.

Director of nursing and patient experience Louise Stead said: “Our staff work tirelessly to make Christmas a happy time for these patients, but for some it can be quite lonely time and mean they do not receive a visit from their friends and family.

“Last year I saw firsthand the difference the shoeboxes made and I would once again appeal to our supporters to help make spending Christmas on one of our wards special.”

For more information on how to donate a shoebox and what items to include, visit the website www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/help-make-someones-christmas-special/.