‘One Stitch at a Time’ at St Luke’s Hospital as ‘Hearts and Mind’: knitting, care and compassionate initiative launched

The End of Life Care team at St Luke’s General Hospital, Kilkenny unveiled the End of Life care Initiative, “Hearts and Mind: Knitting Care and Compassion”, in partnership with ICPOP and the Loughboy Library Knitting Group, Kilkenny on Friday, 19 September last

Generously funded by Creative Ireland and Kilkenny County Council, this project combines creativity, community and care to support the Palliative and Bereavement Care Services at St Luke’s General Hospital. It was officially launched by Prof Garry Courtney at the hospital as part of the 2025 Culture Night events.

This new endeavour builds on the ‘Knitted Hearts and Blankets Initiative’ at the hospital, which was introduced by the End of Life Care team in the emergency department and the End of Life Care Committee at St. Luke’s General Hospital, Kilkenny in 2023. Denise Gavin, Clinical Nurse Manager introduced knitted hearts into the ED while local volunteers and staff have also lovingly knitted blankets, which are generously donated to the End of Life Care Committee.

The aim of this expanded project is to enable staff at St. Luke’s to extend this initiative to all patients on palliative care journeys. This includes providing blankets knitted with compassion and offering knitted hearts following all hospital deaths including adult, child, or infant.

Margaret Ryan, End of Life Care Coordinator, St Luke’s General Hospital, Kilkenny, said: “Bereaved families have shared how meaningful and comforting these handmade hearts and blankets have been throughout their grief journey. This heartfelt feedback confirms that small, creative, handmade items have a powerful ability to console at End of Life. It also reveals the potential to further develop creative projects that respond to the emotional needs of patients and their families.

“Sudden and unexpected deaths in the emergency department and inpatient wards can be especially devastating. In these moments, staff offer families two knitted hearts: one to represent the deceased patient and the other for the family to hold before funeral rituals.”

Margaret explained how later, the hearts are swapped. “The family keeps the heart that was held by their loved one, and the patient symbolically holds the heart given by their family, creating a lasting, tender connection,” she added.

This initiative has a twofold purpose as it also helps to engage older people through meaningful creative activities. Liz Nolan, Community Connector, Carlow Kilkenny Integrated Care of Older Persons (ICPOP) outlined: “There is an important, yet unmet, need among a cohort of older adults in our communities for creative activities that offer both meaning and purpose. This need has become especially clear through referrals made by the Integrated Care of Older Persons (ICPOP) team via the new Community Connection post, a pilot initiative introduced post-pandemic to address increased social isolation and foster reconnection.

“The Community Connection post, a collaboration between the HSE and ALONE, aims to enhance engagement with statutory and third-sector organisations, supporting older adults to participate in activities that reflect their interests and empower them to take greater control of their wellbeing and quality of life.

“It is vital to provide a variety of meaningful and worthwhile activities that truly appeal to older people. For example, in December 2023, two referrals specifically expressed a desire to engage in wool craft and knitting—but with a deeper purpose than simply knitting hats and scarves. The Hearts and Mind Knitting Project perfectly addresses this need, aligning with the Creative Ireland priorities of creativity, connection, wellbeing, positive aging, and engaged citizenship.”