North Shields primary pupils bring joy to NHS staff with touching letters of thanks

Children at a North Shields primary school have brought joy and ‘happy tears’ to NHS staff by writing touching letters to thank them for their work.
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The project at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, in Cullercoats, was inspired by Year 2 pupils learning about the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale.

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The class at the school, which is part of Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust, wrote to local NHS staff describing both what they had learned and praising the work they do.

The school was delighted to receive a letter of thanks and pictures in return from Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which shared the letters across wards, departments and community teams.

Deputy chief nurse Ian Joy wrote: “Your wonderful letters have been shared with our staff and it has brought such joy (and few happy tears too!).”

One letter from pupil Hugo said: “Now hospitals have changed like the beds are much cleaner and no-one has to lie on the floor. 

“I wanted to say thank you for trying to fight covid away and look after people when they are ill.

“I really want to be a doctor when I get a job because you may do little things to people but make a difference to the world.”

Another pupil Madison wrote: “In our lessons we talked about how nursing has changed. It made me think about the amazing work that everyone in the NHS does especially with covid. 

“Thank you for caring for and helping people and thank you for keeping us safe and well.”

Woody wrote: “You are so kind and caring. You are really great at your job and you are spectacular”.

Another letter from Elsie said: “I am so thankful for what you have done. It is so nice of you all to help lots of people and make them well.”

Mrs Joanne MacDonald, Y2 class teacher, said: "This was a wonderful opportunity for the children to give meaning and purpose to their writing and use the knowledge they had gained in their history lessons to explore how nursing had changed over time. 

“Many of the children have parents or family members who work in the NHS so this project was very real to them and they were very excited to write their letters and post them.

“We were all excited and thrilled to receive responses from both the staff and the children's ward and to know that our letters had brought some joy and happiness to others.”
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She added: “The project showed them that very simple acts can have huge impacts and we are incredibly proud of them all. “