FAMILIES unable to visit their loved ones in hospital due to the pandemic are being given handmade knitted hearts to help them feel connected.

Worcestershire’s Acute Hospitals Trust is trying to ease the added distress of Covid-19 visiting restrictions by giving each families the special keepsake.

And matching pair of knitted or felt hearts is then given to the patient so they can feel the connection.

The hearts are posted to each family, who also receive a short letter from the staff on the ward. The handmade knitted hearts have been pouring in from the public, the trust said.

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Lead nurse Alison Robinson said: “Having something to touch and hold, knowing their relative has the matching thing with them is very special. We hope it will help people with their distress.

“We are now working very hard to make sure that any patients on our Covid-19 positive wards and their family receive a pair of hearts.

"We’ve been receiving all sorts of designs, from knitted to felt materials. People have been very generous and really wanting to help.

“We want the families to know that even though they can’t be here, we are and their loved one is not alone.”

Anyone who wants to donated a knitted heart can email alison.robinson34@nhs.net.