'To my loved one' letter service at Northampton General Hospital expands with telephone option

Northampton General has opened a new way for patients in hospital and their loved ones to reach one another through the lockdown.

Northampton General Hospital’s recently launched the ‘To my loved one’ service so patients could send letters and emails to their nearest and dearest in hospital.

But now, the hospital is expanding the service to help friends and family who cannot easily use emails.

A new telephone service will provide an easy way for relatives who don’t have access to email, or are unable to text, to send a message to their loved one.

Those calling the service will be able to let the team know what they would like to say and this will be written down and either given or read to the patient.

Head of volunteering Emma Wimpress said: “We know it is an upsetting time for both patients and relatives who are unable to visit family members in the hospital. We wanted to create a service to help connect people that was both easy to use and quick for patients to receive messages.

"Thanks to our volunteers and internal teams the service has already been a success with over 365 letters been received so far. The telephone service will help connect those who may not have access to technology but would still like to send a letter to their loved one.”

Calls will be picked up Monday to Friday between the hours of 9:30am-2:30pm with the message going out the same day. The phone number for the service is 07514 978390.

Texts can also be sent to this number at any time, with those arriving before 2.30pm going to the patient the same day.

The hospital will also start offering a reading service for anyone that is unable to read or finds it difficult to read.

For more information please visit the Northampton General Hospital.