An 11 year old boy is appealing for help to spread Christmas cheer to hospital patients this December.

Rios Mcstein from Skelmersdale, Lancashire came up with the idea of asking children to draw a card or picture which will be handed over to patients at Whiston, St Helens and Newton Hospitals this Christmas after hearing about his friend’s grandad who will be sadly spending the festive season in hospital.

Rios said: “I was really sad when I heard about my friend’s grandad and thought it would be good to cheer him up with a card, my mum works at Whiston Hospital and when I mentioned it to her she told me about all the other patients who won’t be at home this Christmas so I thought let’s try and do cards and pictures for everyone.”

Rios knows more than most the impact this year’s pandemic has had on families because his mum Nadine and two aunties are all nurses working on the frontline of the NHS.

When the pandemic hit in March this year Rios’ mum who was caring directly for Covid positive patients moved Rios in with his grandparents to reduce his risk and ensure his safety. Nadine said, “As you can imagine I was prepared to do everything I could to keep Rios safe, I was on the frontline and knew at some point I’d be caring for very sick patients so I asked one of the consultants to tell me when things got serious enough for me to need to move Rios.

"Dr Stockton rang me at 10pm one night and simply said it’s time. We had admitted our first Covid positive patient onto my ward and I needed to protect my son.”

Rios is now back living with his mum and dad and hopes to finish 2020 on a high note by sharing lots of love and joy with patients this Christmas.

n Please send your cards or pictures for patients at Whiston, St Helens and Newton Hospitals to:

Christmas Card Appeal, Patient Experience Team, PALS Office, Level 1, Whiston Hospital, Warrington Road, Prescot, L35 5DR.

Or email to patientexperienceteam@sthk.nhs.uk