School Children Make ‘Wiggly Bags’ for Paediatric Ward | Latest news

Pupils aged 12 and 13 at Carlton Academy in Nottingham, have been making Hickman bags, also known as ‘wiggly bags’ for children on Ward E39 at QMC. E39 is a 15-bed paediatric oncology and haematology unit.

The bags help patients to keep their central lines or ‘wigglies’ safe and free from infection, which E39 Ward Manager Joanne Smallman, says is vital:

 “These lines are really important to protect because we use them to give patients their treatment, including chemotherapy, and supportive medications.”

When the central lines are not being used, they nestle in a small cloth bag that is hung across the child’s body. These are the bags that students have been making using bright and colourful fabrics including rainbow coloured dinosaurs, butterflies, multi-coloured llamas, flowers, strawberries and cartoon characters.

Teachers at Carlton Academy came up with the Year 8 project after seeing a post on Facebook from a parent asking for bags to be donated. Since then, students have made 44 bags and patients like 8-year-old Coby, think they’re brilliant!

“I really like them. I like the different designs and where the straps go; I really like the colours that have been used.”

Coby even has some design ideas of his own:

“Sea creatures would be good for next time or flying creatures. Maybe some big cats like lynx, cougars, lions or tigers.”

Following the project’s success, the Design and Technology department have integrated the programme into their curriculum. They expect 200 students to make ‘wiggly bags’ in Year 8.

Dale Mears is the Director of Design and Technology at The Redhill Academy Trust:

“It's essential for students to understand that design is about an end user and for the greater good and not just for them.

“They [students] put so much effort and passion into the bags knowing where they were going and how they were helping. A few students even went home and got parents sewing machines out because they wanted to do more!”

E39 Ward Manager Joanne Smallman is happy the project is carrying on:

“The children and young people love the bags! They love the bright colours and diversity of the patterns."

With more colourful ‘wiggly bags’ expected to arrive, Joanne wants to pass on her gratitude to the children that made them:

“Thank you so much for all your hard work on your project! It really has made a difference to our patients. You should all be really proud of yourselves!”

8-year-old Coby, who picked out three beautifully designed bags, hopes to see more too:

“Thank you a lot!”