Children delight at Chelsea FC’s surprise visit to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Christmas came early yesterday for some children and their families at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital as the Chelsea FC team arrived for a surprise visit. Organised with the help of Chelsea FC Foundation and hospital charity CW+, the squad delivered presents, posed for pictures and signed autographs for the children, parents and staff. 

Club Captain Gary Cahill, defender César Azpilicueta and Eden Hazard were just some of the players who came to spread the Christmas cheer. Gary Cahill believes it is a vital contribution for footballers at this time of year.

“It’s always important to come out into the community. It’s never nice to be in hospital full stop, but around Christmas I can imagine it gets a lot worse,” he said. “It’s nice to take the time to come and see the kids and hopefully brighten up their day, put a smile on their faces and give some gifts out. 

“There have been quite a lot of Chelsea supporters, as you can imagine, with the hospital being so close to the stadium. They seemed to be quite excited, especially to see the players, so it’s been a very good day.” 

Staff on the wards remarked that while Christmas was a difficult time of year for many patients, the visit significantly lifted spirits across the ward. Senior Staff Nurse Melanie Guinan was present at the visit.

Mel commented: “The excitement on the day is just amazing. More than anything, it’s a chance for the children and their families to meet their heroes and be inspired. Bringing a little joy goes a long way in improving their hospital experience.”

The Trust would like to thank Chelsea FC once again for giving up their time to visit the High Dependency Unit (HDU), Mercury, Neptune and Jupiter wards. A visit like this goes a long way in making this time of year a bit brighter for patients and staff.

Credit: Chelsea Football Club

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