Volunteers needed to make knitted hearts

The hospitals have been giving the hearts to patients and their families since 2020

More volunteers are wanted to make knitted hearts for families of patients receiving end-of-life care.

Local knitters have been supplying them to The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust since 2020, but stocks are running low.

The kindness hearts were first given out during the pandemic, when many families could not see their sick relatives.

Debbie Snooke, a Swan End of Life Care Specialist Nurse, said the hearts "bring comfort at a difficult time".

The colourful knitted or crocheted hearts are given to both the patient and the patient's loved ones.

Ms Snooke said: "The hearts have been placed inside a child's favourite teddy, as well as in a photo frame with beautiful statements about the person who has died.

"They are also frequently placed under the bed pillow of the partner of the person who has died."

Jules Lewis, Swan End of Life Care Facilitator and Lead Nurse, said: "These little hearts are small things, but they make a big difference at the hardest of times to our patients and their loved ones."

Jules Lewis and Debbie Snooke said the hearts meant a lot to patients and families

The hospital trust has asked for the hearts to be dropped off at either the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital Ward Block reception or Treatment Centre reception, or at the Princess Royal Hospital Volunteers' Desk.