A kind-hearted group of primary school children have donated care packs to elderly patients at Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary, after launching an appeal for essentials which will support those experiencing longer hospital stays.
The children, from nearby St Mungo’s Primary School, from primaries 3-7, developed the idea with a desire to help their neighbours in the hospital and forge closer links.
The care pack include pyjamas, slippers or bed socks, hairbrushes and combs, puzzle books and toiletries, created by the school’s Laudato Si Action Group.
Jennifer McBride, the Acting Depute Head Teacher at St Mungo’s Primary School, said: “The children were aware that many hospital patients have been unable to have visitors due to restrictions, or that this has been very reduced, and hoped that their packs would extend Laudato Si’s message of care to those in their local community.
“The GRI is our neighbour and many of the children were born in the Princess Royal Maternity hospital on the site and have friends and family who work within the hospital complex – and it’s important for the school to be part of that wider community.”
As a reward for their efforts, some of the schoolchildren were the first visitors to the new museum space within the hospital, which opened last week. After handing over their donations for patients, the children received a tour and even got to see the bee hive which, along with the museum, is operated by the Friends of Glasgow Royal Infirmary charity. The school has sponsored a bee, named Mungo, as part of the charity’s continued fund-raising efforts.
John Carson, Chief Nurse at GRI, said: “We were truly amazed by the thoughtfulness of the children and the patients in our elderly care wards were delighted to receive the care pack to make their stay with us more comfortable. I want to thank everyone who has been involved in doing so much to provide some comfort for our elderly patients.
“We were also delighted to welcome the children as some of the very first guests within the new museum space, allowing them to hear some of the incredible history of the hospital which is on their doorstep.”
