YANG THE GINGER CAT IS BRINGING CHEER BY VISITING PATIENTS AND STAFF AT HEXHAM GENERAL HOSPITAL EVERY DAY

Meet Yang, the unofficial mascot of Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland. The ten-year-old ginger kitty makes it his mission to bring cheer to patients and NHS staff by heading to the hospital every day, trekking a mile from his home whatever’s going on (unless it’s raining. He stays inside on those days).

He’s always been skilled in lightening the mood and comforting nervous patients, but Yang’s presence has been especially appreciated during the coronavirus crisis.

After journeying through gardens, paths, and crossing a main road, the cat does plenty of important work once he reaches the hospital, greeting patients at the doors, wandering the grounds, and snoozing on top of ambulances.

His owner Glynis Bell, 48, who has set up a Facebook page just for local celeb Yang, says: ‘I’m so proud of him. He’s taken it upon his little paws to go and be around people that need him. ‘He makes his own way there and he makes his own way back, apart from when it’s raining. ‘We live behind the hospital. It’s about a five minute drive away or a ten minute walk. ‘He goes through people’s back gardens and onto a main road where he waits for someone to push the button before crossing.

‘He has a knack with the cancer patients when they come outside. On a nice day he will sit with them on the chair outside and relax with them. ‘He seems to know when people have ill relatives or know that they aren’t well. ‘He goes and says hello to patients who have been transported to the hospital for chemo. ‘He stands on his back legs and puts his paws on their knees and just looks at them like, “What’s the matter?’” ‘He’s a well-loved cat – they all love him and he loves them.’

When he’s not hard at work cheering up those in need, Yang hangs out at home with his sister, a black cat called Ying.

He’s loved venturing out and about since he was little, often popping to Tesco and the train station.

About four years ago he earned the title of Hexham Hospital mascot when he started heading in to spend time with patients. ‘It all happened because I had gone away to visit family and the lady who came in to feed him twice a day didn’t provide enough social contact, so he decided to go and be sociable with the patients,’ says Glynis. ‘I wasn’t aware he was going there until about two years ago.

‘Someone messaged me to say, “You do know he comes here don’t you?”‘

It turns out Yang has a real knack for knowing when someone is feeling poorly and in need of comfort.

Glynis said: ‘I think he has a sixth sense about people being ill. ‘About six months ago he started headbutting me in my chest, constantly trying to get my attention. ‘

I collapsed a few weeks later and was diagnosed with a heart condition. ‘

It wasn’t until then that I realised what he had been trying to tell me.

It took a while for me to put two and two together but I was shocked when I made the connection.’

His comforting presence has earned Yang a loyal following. On his Facebook profile people often message to let Glynis know where he’s been and thank the cat for brightening their day.

‘Everyone knows him,’ Glynis says. ‘I created a Facebook page for him a couple of years back just to try and keep track of him.

‘There have been a couple of messages, especially from cancer patients who are going through hell on earth and he has sat with them and taken the time with them.’

‘They have said how much of a difference he makes. ‘If it’s nice weather he will disappear after breakfast and not come back until about 6pm or 7pm.

‘It’s staff, it’s the ambulance drivers, it’s patients – everyone says he has such a relaxing effect.

‘Little children who have broken their wrists come out upset and he goes and says hello.’