A competition to lift the spirits of both the staff and their patients, each ward entered into a Christmas decoration competition with one another.

Among themes from Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory to The Night Before Christmas, however the ward crowned as champion was paediatrics.

Second prize was awarded to the rehabilitation ward and third place to ambulatory care.

The coronary care ward's charge-of-shift, Corinne King, said the gingerbread theme brought a lot of enjoyment to patients.

"The patients really enjoyed looking at the decorations and they did at times join in with helping as well," Ms King said.

"We do a different theme every year which builds team work and brings a sense of joy to the whole ward; it's also something we can all do together, and we've not been able to do much together lately."

The ward's Nurse Unit Manager echoed this, Kim Dickerson agreeing the stress and dull-light caused from pandemic conditions had left staff feeling a little flat.

"Three weeks ago we didn't really want to do anything for Christmas, it's been pretty rough two years," Ms Dickerson said.

"Next thing, we just decided to do it. It was hard work but we got more and more excited each day and it really did lift our spirits after a very rough past year.

"It was a team effort, but it was Toni [Olano] who lead the way; she's very creative and comes up with great ideas," she added.

"Toni was our fearless and creative design leader."

Impartial judges for the competition included the hospital's coffee cart manager Will Clark, representative for volunteers of the health service Joy Fabry, and member for Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak, Stuart Smith.

"The judges were really impressed by the standard of Christmas decorations, particularly the huge amount of work that staff had put into the decorations," Orange Daybreak Rotary judge, Stuart Smith said.

"We even had a Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, which was the rehab ward, where we were entertained by about 10 staff members dressed up and dancing for us in [a ward that had been transformed into] the Willy Wonka factory."

With all of the decorations on show coming directly from the pockets of staff members themselves, Joy Fabry said the staff-driven element of the competition was the joyous selling point for her.

"That's the thing I appreciate, their Christmas spirit," she said.

"That kind of lovely Christmas spirit is transferred to the patients, and it's a very nice feeling."