A stitch in time - Knit and Knatter group help Oldham Hospital’s tiniest patients

Pictured are baby Reece, mum Stacey Donaldson and dad Dylan Taylor, Hospital staff Melanie Wildman, Lead Midwife at the Labour Ward and Penny McDermott, Ward Manager of the Post-Natal Ward. The ladies from the Knit and Knatter group are Michelle McGahey, Nasra Hampshire, Carol Taylor and Toyibat Ganiyu

The Primrose Knit and Knatter group in Oldham was established 18 months ago by a group of local ladies.

The idea behind the group was to support local women to meet new people, share and learn new skills, and try their hand at a well-loved craft.

When the ladies heard about Oldham Hospital’s traffic light hat initiative from Jan Wade, Community Development Co-ordinator at Great Places Housing Group, they jumped at the chance to help.

Oldham Hospital introduced the initiative for newborn babies on the postnatal ward to ensure each baby receive the right level of care.

Every newborn on the ward receives one of three bobble hats - red, amber or green, just like the traffic light system.

This helps to indicate the level of care that is required to staff and parents.

The ladies wasted no time and started knitting the hats back in July.

Now, after a busy few months, the group donated an incredible 170 hats to the postnatal ward!

They visited the hospital to drop off their donation along with the Mayoress of Oldham, who donated her 12 knitted hats.

Melanie Wildman, the Lead Midwife on the Labour Ward and the person who implemented the traffic light hat project, said: “We’re over the moon!

"It’s such a large donation of hats that will be put to good use.”

As well as the hats, the ladies also knitted blankets for the ward last year and have no plans to stop supporting their local hospital.

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