An autistic teenager, who aspires to work for the NHS, has sent nearly 700 cards to frontline workers, sharing messages of support.

Paddy Joyce, 17, from Glasgow, was very upset by the COVID-19 death statistics.

In mid-January, he began writing cards to staff at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI), to cope with his anxiety and share messages of support.

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So far, he has handwritten 663 individually named cards to members of the team, and his goal is to send 5,000 by the end of the year.

He said: “I saw how upset and sad they were on the news. My mum said I should write to someone so I asked her to find someone and lots of people wanted one, so I wanted to write to everyone.”

His mother Indra explained writing letters has helped with Paddy’s concerns about the virus.

Being autistic, statistics “make sense to him because they are numbers and organised”.

Paddy became fixated on coronavirus data, which made him upset and anxious. However, now when he reads the news, his mother said he is more determined to help make the doctors and nurses smile with his letters.

She added the task has restored his purpose, as he is making a difference.

The first cards were opened by people working in the intensive care unit (ICU) at GRI.

NHS Glasgow and Clyde said staff were touched by Paddy’s kindness and acknowledgement.

“We’re still very busy with COVID and non-COVID patients and gestures like these provide something of a boost to keep us going,” Pat Cruickshanks, charge nurse within the ICU, said. “I know that everyone in the team and across the hospital are really grateful.”

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Dr Barbara Crooks, a consultant anaesthetist at GRI, helped coordinate the task of getting names together for Paddy to write to.

She called Paddy’s efforts “tremendous” and said his “heartfelt messages have lifted their spirits”.

At some point, the staff hope to thank him in person.

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