A GLASGOW nurse has collected dozens of bags of toiletries for hospital patients cut off from visitors and raised almost £1000 to reach even more.

Auxiliary nurse Lynne James-McGonigle started off adding a few items to her own weekly grocery shop like shampoo and shower gel and then texted her friends and family to ask for help.

She then appealed to her own community and the donations flooded in.

After just a few days, Lynne had enough to fill 12 large bags which were delivered to a care of the elderly ward at the Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

But she didn’t stop there. She recruited friends, some of whom work for the NHS, to collect donations and packages have now been delivered to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley as well as hospices and care homes.

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Lynne, who is originally from Govanhill but now lives in Newton Farm in Cambuslang, has set up a GoFundMe page and is hoping to fund colouring-in and crossword books, phone chargers and radios for patients as she said many hospitals don’t have any.

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She said: “When we were told the hospital was in lockdown and our patients were not allowed visitors, which would mean many would have no essentials toiletries, I added a few extra to my weekly shop, then I texted and called some family and friends to do the same, which progressed to asking the residents of Newton Farm, where I’m from.

“I so far managed to get enough donations to full 12 large bags, which were dropped off at a ward in the elderly care unit at the Queen Elizabeth where they have 210 patients.”

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Lynne has raised more than £800 so far after receiving a donation from her former employers at Glasgow City Council Land Services.

She added: “I'm hoping people continue to donate so I can buy other things, such as colouring books crossword books, phone chargers, biscuits, and if I was successful I’d also like to purchase radios as some of our other hospitals do not have any modern technology.”

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "We are grateful for everyone’s generosity during this difficult time."

To make a donation to Lynne’s fund go to www.gofundme.com/f/essentials-for-nhs-patient

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