Leading children's author helps young Southampton patients be COVID ZERO heroes
A leading children’s author and illustrator is helping young patients remind people about the importance of protecting Southampton’s hospitals from the transmission of Covid-19.
Youngsters being treated at Southampton Children’s Hospital have been busy getting creative by colouring a series of posters designed by Nick Sharratt, highlighting the importance of continuing to regularly wash your hands, walk apart and wear a mask.
Nick, who has previously illustrated books for authors including Julia Donaldson and Michael Rosen, created the series of posters and colouring pictures to support University Hospital Southampton’s COVID ZERO campaign.
The campaign was launched with the aim of wiping out transmission of COVID-19 within UHS.
Hampshire residents are being urged to follow the protective measures being adopted by all staff at UHS - WASH your hands, WALK apart and WEAR a mask when you can’t be socially distanced from others.
As well as staff and the local community, patients are absolutely vital in helping to achieve the COVID ZERO mission and youngsters at Southampton Children’s Hospital have been showing support for the campaign by colouring in the pictures designed by Nick.
The colourful creations will go on display at the children’s hospital this week to coincide with the start of a new school term as youngsters across the south prepare to return to classrooms for the first time in many months.
Nick said: “I was delighted to be able to contribute to the COVID ZERO campaign at University Hospital Southampton, and I do hope that the posters, so brilliantly coloured in by the children, will help in reminding everyone of the things they can do to keep us all safe.”
Sanjay Patel, consultant in paediatric infectious diseases, praised the children’s creative efforts and thanked Nick for lending his support.
He said: “We are enormously grateful to Nick Sharratt for lending his time and support by designing some brilliant posters which our young patients have thoroughly enjoyed colouring in.
“This has been the perfect way to engage children on a vitally important message.
“We need everyone to do all they can to protect their local hospital, to enable us to continue to deliver much-needed care to patients and not risk being overwhelmed by Covid-19 this winter.
“It is particularly important that we remind people to remain alert and follow these simple steps as children return to schools and parents gather in playgrounds or outside school gates at home time.”
Hospitals across the county as well as nursing leaders and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) who run GP services and provide an array of community health services, have all signed up to the COVID ZERO campaign. Local businesses and the city’s MPs have also backed the initiative.
To find out how you can get involved, visit Be a COVID ZERO hero
Download your own posters to colour in
- Nick Sharratt: Wash hands poster
- Nick Sharratt: Wear a mask hippo poster
- Nick Sharratt: Walk apart poster
Share your artwork with us on Twitter - @SotonChildHosp