Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

24/12/2025

On the DAY before Christmas, we’re sharing our annual tradition! 🎄💚

Mr Martin Gargan, our Clinical Chair, has done a lovely reading of ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’ – what a perfect way to celebrate the night before Christmas!
Happy Christmas Eve to you all – find a comfy spot and settle down to enjoy this classic story. 🥰

https://youtu.be/9nXjqGzs8CY?si=jQFP07wThPk1KsDh

Settle down for 'Twas The Night Before Christmas - a classic Christmas story read to you by Martin. A well-loved classic story to bring some Christmas cheer;...

23/12/2025

On the 3rd day before Christmas… we wanted to say a big heartfelt thank you! 💚

This is the season (as well as all year round) of passing on our thanks. We are so grateful to all our staff members across the hospitals for all the hard work they put in to providing a caring environment and service every day. 🥰

We hope you’ve been enjoying our 2025 Christmas Countdown – only 2 more posts left (including our big Christmas day post)! 🎄

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank? Let us know in a comment below 👇

23/12/2025

Christmas can be a special and memorable time for many, but for some families the significance and poignancy of the festive period can hold a greater meaning.

With kind support from The Grand Appeal, this year the Paediatric Palliative Care & Bereavement Support Team, the hospital Chaplaincy Team and staff from across the hospital have worked together to produce a virtual 'Service of Light'. The aim of this service is to honour and remember the lives of children cared for at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and to reach out to bereaved families with a message of love, hope and peace at this important time of year. We are thinking of you all.

The service includes the lighting of a remembrance candle so, as you watch the film, you may like to have your own candle ready to light as we light ours.

You can view the video via the link below, or you can find it on:

Our Trust YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/KPVANQP2GZg?si=EB6AuLkxXET8zBOS

Or our webpage - https://www.uhbristol.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/your-hospitals/bristol-royal-hospital-for-children/patient-and-family-support-services/when-your-child-has-died/

For further information and support you can contact the team by email: ChildrensBereavmentSupportTeam@uhbw.nhs.uk or phone: 01173427293 in normal working hours.

For support at other times, ​The Child Death Helpline offers a freephone confidential service for all those affected by the death of a child, open every day of the year. Call: 0800 282 986

22/12/2025

On the 4th day BEFORE Christmas… we’re thinking back to last year’s Cuddles for Christmas! 🧸

Organised by Cancer Support UK through our dedicated hospital charity, Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal, last year we had the Cuddles the Bear hand deliver some teddies for our patients to enjoy over the festive period! It was such a lovely visit! 🥰

We wanted to take the time to say thank you to all of the visitors who came during December this year. This time of year, can be a difficult one for our families and patients, so having you be part of some magical cheer really helps things feel that little bit better. We are very grateful! 💚

21/12/2025

On the 5th day BEFORE Christmas… we’re showing you how we celebrated Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal BIG Christmas Dress Up! 💚🎄

A few days ago, staff and teams around Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, NICU in St Michael's, Weston General Hospital and of course some of the amazing The Grand Appeal team got fancy and fantastically festive in dressing up for Christmas! Don’t they look fabulous! 🥰

Have a scroll to see all the cool costumes and who got involved! Do you recognise anyone? 👇

20/12/2025

On the 6th day BEFORE Christmas… we wanted to visit some of our friends around the hospital! 🥰

Snowman and Gromit have been hanging out together up in Penguin Ward… we wonder if they’re talking about their festive plans! What do snowmen and Gromit’s do on Christmas day? ❄

We then stopped by Planet Therapy, where our knitted friends have been getting on swimmingly with the ward pets! They only come out to visit the fish for a few days in the year, so I’m sure they have lots to catch up on! 🐟

Finally, the LIAISE Office always has some kind of fun going on! Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal kindly gifted staff some treats for Christmas, and we found these 2 teddies trying to get into the box of sweets! 🎁

19/12/2025

On the 7th day BEFORE Christmas… a special place on Level 4 that our families, staff and patients can use every day at any time. 💚

Our hospital has a wonderful Chaplaincy Service, which supports patients, families and carers of all faiths and none – someone to listen, to offer spiritual support and perhaps link you with your own faith locally.

The space is a quiet and calming place to gather thoughts and even write down some of your own memories. We hope you find some peace there! It’s located on the left just before you enter Lighthouse Ward on Level 4.

19/12/2025

The HANDi App offers simple advice on what to do when your child is unwell.

If you need some expert health advice on common childhood illnesses at your fingertips, you can download the free app via App Store or Google Play.

🔗 https://nhs-icb.bisongrid.dev/health-and-care/health-advice-and-support/handi-app/

18/12/2025

On the 8th day BEFORE Christmas, have a peek inside our wintery wards! 🎄❄

We went around some of the wards, to see what festive cheer they’re spreading, and we think (as always) they’ve hit the ‘brrrr’ief perfectly! Have a scroll and see for yourself! 💚

17/12/2025

On the 9th day BEFORE Christmas… we’re saying a beary big thank you to the WPA Charitable Foundation! 🎁

WPA Health Insurance Charitable Foundation, help with giving back to our families all year round so we were thrilled when they informed us that they were sending a range of gifts for the people they support! 🥰

We had the LIAISE Mascot, Toffee The Teddy, ready to accept and look after the gifts – good job Toffee! Toffee also got into the festive spirit with a fancy headband, he looks paws-itvley amazing! 🧸💚

16/12/2025

On the 10th day BEFORE Christmas… we’re sharing some National Elf Service Day pictures! 🎅🏼

The team from Weston General Hospital (left picture) and our team in Puzzlewood Ward (right picture), got festive recently! They rocked some stripes, hats, funky shoes … the lot! ❄

Santa’s very special Christmas helpers are going to be busy this season…

15/12/2025

On the 11th day BEFORE Christmas… we’re sharing our updated décor! 🎄

The Bristol Royal Hospital for Children’s reception decorations have had a refresh, thanks to our dedicated charity, Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal for setting it up and a thank you to Field and Lawn for donating the tree and the fake presents! Don’t they all look fabulous! 🥰

We wanted to take this time to say a HUGE thank you to all of you who fundraised through The Grand Appeal for us in 2025. We are so grateful for every effort and so grateful to be supported by such a widespread and wonderful community. Your hard work means you get to help so many parents, patients and families every single day – and for that we can’t express our gratitude enough. 💚

What’s something you’re grateful for? Let us know in a comment below 👇