Sewing for Mid Yorks

Thank you for your interest in sewing items for Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust; this page will detail information about the sewn items we are currently accepting. Please note we quarantine all items before distributing them to the relevant department. We kindly request that only items which appear as currently required are sent to us please, as unfortunately we do not have the space to store other items.

 Small jewellery pouches can be used to place a patient’s jewellery or ring inside when they sadly pass away, and is passed on to their family. This supports dignified and respectful care, as opposed to a loved one’s jewellery being placed inside an envelope or similar. The jewellery pouches can be made in a range of colours and patterns, though light, neutral and soft pastel colours are preferred. Any sewing pattern of your choice may be used.    A fidget quilt is a sensory activity in a lap quilt or small blanket that provides tactile stimulation for the restless hands of someone suffering from dementia. Similar to the Twiddlemuff, each fidget quilt is unique and so creativity is welcomed! Decorations such as buttons, toggles and pom poms are just a few good examples of different textures that can be twiddled with. We please request that decorations such as zips, long ribbons, sharp objects and anything which a patient may get their fingers stuck in are avoided. Patient property bags can be used by patients to keep their belongings together and safe when they are in the hospital, as some patients may be admitted to the hospital unexpectedly or at short notice. These drawstring bags should be big enough to hold a few items and can be made in a range of colours and patterns. Any sewing pattern of your choice may be used. The use surgical facemasks has increased significantly across the Trust during the COVID-19 pandemic due to national guidelines. As a result, many members of staff wear a facemask for extended periods of time, which can cause irritation behind the ears. Headbands, similar to mask extenders but in full headband form, make wearing PPE more comfortable by attaching the strings of the facemask to the buttons on the headband. Headbands can be made in a range of colours and patterns so creativity is welcomed! Uniform wash bags are used by staff to safely carry their uniform to and from work. The use of uniform bags supports infection control in limiting the spread of viruses in the workplace, as well as at home, as bacteria may potentially linger on unclean scrubs or clothes. The wash bags are made to withstand repeated domestic washing so that the bag can be put into the washing machine with scrubs or uniform safely inside. Staff love to receive uniform wash bags in a range of varied colours and patterns so you can get as creative as you like! We please request that the uniform bag is made with a drawstring closure (fabric not elastic) and ideally in a cotton or poly-cotton material to withstand high temperature washing. There are no strict criteria for the measurements so long as a pair of scrubs can comfortably fit inside. Syringe driver bags are small bags used to carry syringe drivers, most frequently used in pain management for palliative care. The bags provide dignity and privacy for patients whilst also keeping the machine safe. A range of lovely patterns and colours would make these supportive items more attractive and so we welcome creativity. These bags are intended to be for single patient use to comply with infection control, and so consider each one as a kind gift to an individual patient. Blankets are used by different departments across the Trust to provide warmth and comfort to patients. Below you can find specific criteria relating to each department. Dementia/ Complex Needs Team: Blankets and bed runners help dementia patients to identify their bed due to its unique pattern and colours, in an unfamiliar environment where the beds can often look similar. They are also great for providing a sense of home comfort and warmth. A range of colours and patterns can be used so we welcome your creativity! We request that blankets be approximately 120cm x 90cm in size. The Dementia team also welcome donations of smaller lap blankets or bed runners which can sit at the end of the bed. Any sewing pattern of your choice may be used and these blankets can be knitted, crocheted or sewn. Palliative Care Team: The palliative care team use blankets while caring for end of life patients to provide warmth and to keep patients as comfortable as possible. A range of colours and patterns can be used, though soft pastel colours are preferred. We request that blankets be approximately 120cm x 90cm in size. Any sewing pattern of your choice may be used and these blankets can be knitted, crocheted or sewn. Neonatal/ Maternity: The neonatal unit and maternity ward use knitted blankets to keep babies warm and comfortable. We request that blankets be approximately 90cm by 90cm in size or smaller. A range of colours and patterns can be used, though soft pastel colours are preferred. Any sewing pattern of your choice may be used and these blankets can be knitted, crocheted or sewn. Connections hearts are beautiful pairs of matching hearts that can be knitted, crocheted or sewn. One heart is given to the patient’s family and the matching heart is kept with their loved one. This provides a special sense of tangible connection that links them together and can provide comfort for relatives. We please ask hearts to be approximately 7cm x 7cm in size or smaller, to enable them to fit inside an envelope. The use surgical facemasks has increased significantly across the Trust during the COVID-19 pandemic due to national guidelines. As a result, many members of staff wear a facemask for extended periods of time, which can cause irritation behind the ears. Mask extenders help make the wearing of PPE more comfortable by attaching the strings of the facemask to the buttons of the mask extenders, worn behind the head. Mask extenders can be made in a range of colours and sizes, and can be knitted, crocheted or sewn. Any pattern of your choice may be used however some examples can be found on the following sites.

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