Pebbles carry love to hospital patients
Hospital patients can receive a personallypainted pebble with a message from a loved one, family or friend.
The stones are designed to be a comfort at a time when visiting is restricted.
The hand-painted Comfort Stones are being made by volunteers who live in Forth Valley and come in a variety of designs including seascapes, clouds, butterflies, flowers and insects.
Once painted they are sealed with varnish so they can be sanitised before being given out in a small organza bag inside a plastic sealed bag.
The programme is being spearheaded by secondary school teacher Lisa Doran, who said: “I think it is so important to feel connected to the people we love when we are afraid or ill.
“When we can’t hold the hand of a loved one when sick in hospital, holding a stone painted with love with a message from them can bring so much comfort.
“Small things like this can make a big difference to someone’s wellbeing: to know you have not been forgotten and to know someone cares.
“Our volunteers all live or work in the local community. Some are staff from my workplace and others are from local rock painting groups.
“Many are painting rocks with their children as a shared activity or inviting friends and neighbours to become involved so our Facebook group has a great sense of community and people are really supportive of one another.”
Lisa said they hopeto have an online tutorial from a professional artist.
Sandra Campbell, a Macmillan nurse consultant for cancer and palliative care, found the idea of Comfort Stones inspiring.
She said: “We understand that people would prefer to be there in person with their loved one, holding their hands, but we hope this gives them the opportunity to be there in an alternative and creative way.
“This is a perfect example of being able to bring people together through kindness and compassion.”
Comfort Stones will be available at Forth Valley Royal Hospital and in the community hospitals.
To arrange for a patient to receive a stone friends and relatives can phone the ward and tell them the message they want to send or call NHS Forth Valley’s spiritual care team on 01324 566071.
Anyone who wants to paint stones can contact fvcomfortstones@gmail. com.