One of my favourite projects that our Charity supports – with your help – is the Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Patient Fund. This is an annual allocation of around £100,000 to fund projects that make life just a little bit easier for patients at our hospitals.

What’s unusual about this particular form of funding is that we have an open application process – staff members can put forward their ideas to a panel that consists of a combination of hospital leaders, charity representatives and trustees. The panel met on Monday to consider 39 new applications, most of which were looking for just a few thousand pounds of funding.

The thoughtfulness of the ideas is always fantastic. The projects this time included a music system to soothe patients undergoing scans; better, more relaxing lighting for pre-operative waiting areas; and new seating for the Transplant Garden at Harefield Hospital. I’m pleased to say almost 30 of the applications were successful, with funds coming either from our Charity or our colleagues at the Friends of Royal Brompton Hospital.

We are about to embark on our busiest time of year, with a string of events planned (Covid-19 allowing). You are very welcome to join us at the Royal Brompton Carols by Candlelight or the Harefield Carols by Candlelight; to take on the fun of our Santa Dash (virtual this year for the first time ever); or to pop along to the Harefield Hospital Festive Fair.

Due to the support of two generous donors, the first £20,000 we raise in the Christmas period will be matched. We call this Doubling December. Your gifts to our Charity always make a difference – next month, they will work twice as hard.

Thank you for your support, now and always.