After months of collecting donations, wrapping and filling stockings, the elves at Medway Hospital will be handing out Santa's stockings today.

Hospital workers, volunteer staff and people from the wider community made the finishing touches on Tuesday ready for the big day.

The appeal, backed by the Medway Messenger, was the idea of volunteers and the hospital chaplain. Every patient who is in hospital on Christmas Day will receive a stocking filled with donated gifts.

It began with a wrapping day on November 23, where 200 stockings were filled. Tuesday saw the final push to get everything ready for the big day on Monday.

Chaplain Lynda Cook said: “There are a number of people you come across who don’t have friends or family and for every adult it’s not the place you want to be. We want them to know they are looked after and cared for.

“We are focusing on adults in hospital over Christmas as our children’s ward is usually provided very well for at Christmas.

“We’re making them for parents in hospital over Christmas with their children but we are focusing on adults and the elderly.”

The companies and churches who have helped with the appeal are:

NatWest

Perfume Shop

Wallis

Holland and Barratt

Denby

Game Station

The Poachers Pocket pub

Boots

Wilkinsons

PJ Steel

Posh bags

D&A Toys

Waterstones

Socialites

The Crown pub

Francis Iles

City Wall wine bar

Gordon Hotel

Oliver’s wine bar

Central Theatre

John’s Kitchen

BLU-3

Charles Edward Ltd

TNS Traffic Management Ltd

JU Construction

MHS Homes

Gillingham Salvation Army

St Augustine’s (Gillingham)

Kings Church Chatham

St Mary Magdalene (Gillingham)

Gillingham Methodist Church

Hartlip Methodist Church