NHS workers knit to stay healthy

NHS Highland said there were health benefits to knitting

Staff at NHS Highland have been learning to knit as a way of staying healthy and to provide items for a Homecoming Scotland celebration.

A number of employees have spent their lunch-times knitting squares which will be sewn together and handed over to the Stitches on the Bridge project.

It plans to drape knitted items over the railings of the Skye Bridge.

The health board's knitting initiative was part of its Healthy Work Lives programme for employees.

Fiona Clarke of NHS Highland, who is also a member local knitting group INstitches, said a "knit in" was organised after staff heard about the Skye project.

She said: "There is growing evidence that knitting has health benefits such as helping to lower stress levels and reducing the risk of memory loss.

"A clinical trial has previously demonstrated the benefits of knitting as a therapy for those with mental illness."

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