Children in the paediatric and adolescent ward were treated to a visit from the North Pole’s favourite resident as part of a Christmas party for current and former patients.

Santa Claus handed out gifts, some Wagga firefighters called in to say hello and the food table was decked with an enormous gingerbread house.

“The whole idea of doing our Christmas party each year is to show children that being in hospital doesn’t have to be a bad time. They can have good times,” nurse unit manager Pam Rawle said.

“Its usually our frequent flyers children who are in and out during the year, but any child is most welcome to come to the Christmas party to show that the ward is quite a nice place to be.

“They love it and we get such good support from the community.”

Lara Schulz and her daughter Tayla were saying hello to Santa Claus as the eight-year-old recovered from an emergency appendectomy.

Ms Schulz was relieved that Tayla was doing well after her surgery and would be home in time for Christmas.

The halls of the unit were decked for an Australian Christmas, with thongs included in the trimmings.

Ward staff came joint second with the medical unit second in a hospital decorating competition behind the maternity ward.

Third place was shared by the surgical and orthopaedics units.