Newborn babies are being kept warm by tiny colourful bobble hats at a hospital – so staff can identify the individual care they need.
Thousands of the hats have been sent from all over the world since the hospital appealed for volunteer knitters two months ago.
The RUH Bath Birthing Centre in Bath, Somerset says the response has been “amazingly generous” but it still needs more.
The bobble hats have a traffic light system of green, amber and red pom-poms to help ensure that babies receive care specific to them.
So far, knitters aged from nine to 94 from 159 different locations have got involved, with hats being sent from countries including America, Portugal, Spain, UK and Ireland.
But with 5,000 babies a year being born at the RUH, there’s a never-ending demand for knitting aid.
Rachel Coleman, practice development sister, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the number of people from around the world who’ve taken the time to get knitting.
“The response has been incredible – every spare space we had is now filled with bags of hats.
“We can’t reply to everyone personally, but a big thank you to everyone who’s sent us hats.
“Babies will still receive traditional midwifery care, but this is an extra visual aid.
“A green bobble means your baby is term, warm and feeding well.
“Amber indicates a baby needs a little more help with feeding and keeping warm.
“Red indicates a baby will have regular observations by a nurse or midwife.
“The hats will make a real difference in further improving the quality of care we provide and we are extremely grateful for every hat donated.”
