Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent

Heartbeat in a bottle

Critical care nurse Hollie Minshall has introduced an innovative way for relatives to remember their loved ones.

‘Heartbeat in a bottle’ is a small test tube bottle which contains a rhythm strip of the patient’s heartbeat and is given to the family as a special keepsake when they pass away.

Hollie had the idea after witnessing the distress that families experience when losing a loved one, especially whilst separated from them due to Coronavirus visiting restrictions.

Nurses from other critical care units are now getting in touch with Hollie to ask if they can repeat the initiative at their own Trusts.