Volunteers needed to help ensure the sew can go on for a special project

The sew must go on for a project giving children special caps to wear during their operations – but hospital staff need more volunteers to help.

The Friends of the William Harvey Hospital have pledged £1,600 to the scheme, which was the brainchild of nurse specialist Patricia Velazquez-Ruta and anaesthetist John Coombes. It will fund enough fabric for hundreds more youngsters to benefit, but the team need more sewers to sign up to create the caps.

Since its launch in 2022, almost 300 children have been able to choose their cap from a range of fabrics, including unicorns, Marvel Heroes, Star Wars, and Harry Potter, and their anaesthetist will wear a matching one.

Patricia, who also runs a textile design company, said: “The idea is to make children and young people feel more empowered, and part of the team and the process, and to make their surgery feel less scary.

“Before the project, they would be the only person in theatre not wearing a cap, so giving them the option to choose one really helps them to bond with the team and makes it more fun.

“They are also able to keep the cap as a memento of their visit.”

Feedback from young patients and their parents is overwhelmingly positive, with 96 per cent of parents agreeing the project was good or very good, and 87 per cent saying it helped their children feel more comfortable.

A total of 90 per cent of the patients liked being able to choose their cap, and 64 per cent said it helped them worry less about their operation.

Volunteers will be given fabric and a pattern to help them make the caps, and should have some experience in sewing. Anyone interested can contact Patricia via the Friends of the William Harvey Hospital website: https://www.friendsofthewilliamharveyhospital.co.uk/contact