Knitters help Covid patients to stay connected to loved ones

Knitters have been helping Covid patients to stay connected to their loved ones as they battle the deadly virus.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) appealed for knitted hearts in January following a successful campaign last year.

One heart is given to the patient while the other is sent out to their next of kin, who may be unable to visit because of the lockdown restrictions.

From the Heart: The campaign was initially created last spring. Email

Campaign From the Heart was was initially created last spring for the families of those who died from Covid-19. However, the health board noticed the hearts were also being used for hospital patients and care home residents not only during end of life care but at other challenging times too.

In the appeal last month, NHSGGC said its services were around 40% busier than during the first wave of the pandemic so called for “local communities to pick up their knitting needles and crotchet hooks again”.

A woman from Duntocher in West Dunbartonshire took it one step further by attaching tiny heartfelt poems that she had written herself.

This gentle reminder is here to say,
You are loved and missed every day!
Poem

Knitter: Josie Torrance helped out again. Email

Josie Torrance, 75, who helped last year, was one of the first to respond to the new appeal and also included some poems.

She said: “I just wanted to help, so I put some wee messages in to let them know they were loved.

“I just wanted to do something to help.”

Nae widden heart wid comfort ye
So here’s a wee knitted yin
Jist big enough tae fit yer haun
Wae ma love aw knitted in!
Poem

The pensioner added: “Me and my husband are doing okay, but I know so many people are having a difficult time.

“I hope my hearts – and my poems – help a little.”

Assistant chief nurse Sandra Blades said her team was delighted at the great response to the appeal.

She stated: “People are just so kind. The response has been incredible – we’ve been blown away.

“When Josie’s parcel arrived you could feel there was so much love and thought had gone into her work and the messages were just beautiful.

“I want to thank everyone who has responded. It means so much to know you are with us in these difficult times.”

Design: Free to use patterns can be found online. Email

If you wish to knit a heart, use clean wool and then place it into a re-sealable plastic bag with the date clearly written on it. This is so staff can allow 72 hours before the hearts are used.

Send your creations to From the Heart campaign, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, JB Russell House, Gartnavel Royal site, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0XH.

Please also include your name and email address or postal address.

Free to use patterns can be found here.