MEMORIES of staff carving the turkey and doctors and their families spending Christmas in hospital feature in a festive photographic exhibition.
The exhibition, which celebrates memories of Christmas in hospital over the years, is on display at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.
It includes photographs and stories from former patients and staff about how Christmas has been celebrated at the complex over the past 50 years.
The exhibition shows how Christmas celebrations have changed over the years, with stories showing how consultants took their families to the hospital for Christmas to carve the turkey and eat lunch with the patients.
The project is in the hands of freelance historian Ian Lawley who appealed for former patients and staff to come forward and share their memories of the hospital over the festive period.
Patients told him how the wards were decorated and the staff used to perform a Christmas panto.
Mr Lawley, from Newcastle, said he had heard some very interesting stories about how the festive period has changed at the hospital over the years.
"Some people have said they spent their first Christmas away from home at the hospital as children because of illness," he said.
"One man had around 13 operations as a child meaning between the ages of eight and 13 he was in and out of hospital all the time, and spent Christmases in bed opening presents."
He added: "We decided to stage the exhibition because it's a special time of the year and it's a slightly odd experience for all.
"Christmas time is when you want to be with friends and family rather than in hospital. Over the years the nursing staff tried hard to compensate and make the patients feel special.
"They'd decorate the wards and consultants would even bring their children into the hospital and carve the turkey. A lot was done to compensate the expense of being away from your family."
The exhibition is part of a bigger campaign by the NHS, If Wards Could Talk, which has seen more than 100 people come forward to contribute memories and photographs including international responses from Australia, Canada and Spain.
It hopes to preserve the culture and history of the hospital before the Royal Infirmary is demolished after the new �400 million superhospital is opened in 2012.
Gill Berrisford was a nurse on the wards between 1960 and 1965. The 68-year-old has fond memories of the Christmas period.
She said: "Some of the children actually preferred Christmas and Easter at the hospital because it was better than being at home. Times were hard and if they were in hospital they would have donations.
"We had lots of decorations and it was very nice, friendly and relaxed."
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