As many families across Bolton prepare for Christmas at home, one member of NHS staff is getting ready for a very different kind of festive season.

Lydia Hill, a play specialist on the Children’s Ward at Royal Bolton Hospital, will spend Christmas Day supporting children who are too unwell to leave hospital.

Play specialists provide cover all year round, but December can be their busiest and most meaningful time. Working closely with clinical teams to reduce anxiety and support children’s treatment, they help ensure that only children who truly need hospital care are on the ward on Christmas Day.

After 40 years in the NHS, this Christmas will be Lydia’s final Christmas Day working on the ward before her retirement in 2026.

Lydia said:

No child should feel forgotten on Christmas Day. A small moment of joy can make a huge difference. We’re here to make hospital feel as safe and calm as possible.

Thanks to the generosity of communities and local Bolton companies, every child wakes on Christmas morning to a donated gift through Our Bolton NHS Charity, with ones for visiting siblings too.

In December, the ward is transformed with decoration and festive activities but alongside the celebrations is the serious work of treating children who are unwell. Lydia helps them prepare for treatment and eases their anxieties with distraction and play. She works with families from many cultures and backgrounds, recognising that Christmas can bring its own challenges, from stress to bereavement.

Dr Manisha Kumar, chief medical officer at NHS Greater Manchester, said:

Lydia plays a vital role in supporting children’s recovery. Her work goes far beyond play. It helps reduce stress, supports children emotionally, and ensures children and families feel safe, supported and cared for during what can be an incredibly difficult time. At Christmas, Lydia’s compassion makes an extraordinary difference, and she is a Christmas hero to many families spending the festive season in hospital.