The love hearts making such a difference

Simple woollen hand-stitched heart-shaped keepsakes are helping to keep Oldham families united during the coronavirus crisis.

Teams of volunteer knitters have provided the hearts to the Royal Oldham Hospital where one heart stays with patients in ICU and another heart is sent with a letter to families prevented from visiting their loved one because of restrictions.

Lucy Bates, an Intensive Care Consultant at The Royal Bolton Hospital, lives in Delph. 

She said: “I saw the hearts idea a while ago on social media used in a hospice setting.

"I decided to do the same for my patients at Bolton. 

“One heart stays with the patient in ICU and the other is sent to the relative who can’t visit at this difficult time.

"I asked on social media if anyone could help and I have received around 500 pairs of hearts, collected kindly at the Delph Co-op and sent to me from all around the country. 

“I asked a friend who works at Oldham if she would like to do the same as so many people were keen to help.

"She is collecting from Uppermill Co-op for Oldham Hospital.

“There are lots of positive feedback from families, hospital staff and knitters.

“I started the initiative, then Jude Gidney saw what I was doing and got in touch to see if I knew how to get Oldham hospital, Uppermill and the Saddleworth knitters involved. 

"I gave her a contact at Oldham Hospital and advised her to ask the Uppermill Co-op to collect.

"It’s all part of the same initiative across two hospitals in the North West, started from Delph.”

Well-respected former Oldham pub landlord Jimmy Needham, a famed musician, is currently in Oldham ICU with Covid-19 but, according to his son, Joey, is “smiling and communicating well... small steps in the right direction” after 17 days on life support.

Joey, aged 29, who has his own kitchen fitting business, said: “I received the handmade heart in the post with a really nice letter saying they have placed a heart in my dad's hand and I also had one to keep with me - it's a small gesture as we can’t go and visit him.

”My grandmother has now got the heart.

"She's my dad's mother, she’s called Nora Needham, and is 90. 

“She and my dad are extremely close, as are his two older sisters, Susan and Catherine.

“It’s been a great comfort to my grandmother.

"She was able to finally get some sleep knowing she had that connection with my dad even though we couldn’t physically see him. 

“The hospital staff have been absolutely fantastic.

"They ring me twice a day every day and update me on his condition. 

“They have done their very best for him and he’s finally, after all this time, showing signs of improvement.

"They have definitely saved his life.

“The response on Facebook to my dad's illness has been outstanding.

"I have had over 2,000 messages from people sending their love and best wishes for him and it has restored my faith in humanity, how kind everyone has been to me and my family."

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