Autistic teenager, who aspires to work for the NHS, wows frontline workers with almost 700 thank you cards

An autistic teenager, who aspires to work for the NHS, has sent almost 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.

Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world

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

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

His mother Indra said writing letters helped Paddy address concerns about the virus.

Being autistic, statistics “make sense to him because they are quantified and organized.”

Paddy became obsessed with corona virus data, which made him upset and anxious. However, now that he reads the news, his mother says he is more determined to help make doctors and nurses smile with his letters.

She added that this task gave him meaning because he makes a difference.

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

NHS Glasgow and Clyde said staff had been touched by Paddy's kindness and appreciation.

“We are still very busy with COVID and non-COVID patients and gestures like these give us a boost to keep going,” said Pat Cruickshanks, head nurse in the intensive care unit. “I know everyone on the team and across the hospital is truly grateful.”

Dr Barbara Crooks, consultant anesthetist at GRI, helped coordinate the task of gathering names for Paddy to write to.

She described Paddy's efforts as “enormous” and said his “heartfelt messages have lifted their spirits”.

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