Community answers Leeds doctor's plea for protective clothing

Dr Hannah Zacharias, consultant in palliative medicine at St Gemma's Hospice in Moortown, realised early on in the pandemic that the clinical team - who normally wear their own clothes - wold need scrubs - which can be washed at high temperatures and warn again during the pandemic.

With official scrubs and uniforms in short supply, the multi-talented doctor got sewing herself in her spare time but soon ran out of material and asked around her local village of Notton, near Wakefield.

The plea was also posted on the hospice's social media pages and soon, she and the hospice were inundated with colourful tops - including seven from an elderly woman who lives close to the hospice and is self-isolating.

And the volunteers have not stopped there - now making similar attire for local GPs and hospitals.

Dr Zacharias said: "Getting hold of protective equipment and clothing is difficult so the most practical thing I could do was start to sew them myself.

"It wasn’t easy with two young children at home, but we all got involved in my household, and then it grew across the village where I live.

"Before I knew it, the hospice was receiving donations of beautiful scrub tops and the medical team love them.

"People have been using whatever material they have, so we have a very varied selection of colours and patterns.

"My ‘limited edition’ Octopus top is a particular hit around the hospice and is definitely a good conversation topic with patients.

"I’d like to thank everyone who has really taken this task in hand, everyone at St Gemma’s is thrilled."