Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, visiting restrictions mean that patients have been unable to receive visits from their loved ones. It’s more important than ever that we’re there to support the wellbeing of our patients and their families.
With your support, we’ve funded 130 tablets across our hospitals so that patients and their families can talk regularly via video calls.
The technology also enables staff to talk to relatives and explain the treatment that their loved ones are receiving. All the wards, and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), benefitted.
Anna’s father John was treated for Covid-19 in the ICU in November 2020:
“We had our first video call with Dad four days after he was admitted to hospital and it was quite a shock to see all the machinery that surrounded him. The nurse talked us through what it all did, gave us the time we needed to ask questions, and reassured us that Dad was stable.
“We continued to have video calls with Dad throughout his time in intensive care. Without this technology, we would have had no contact at all.”
The simple addition of tablet holders, which clip onto patients’ beds, have made a huge difference in providing privacy, enabling longer calls and keeping patients connected with their families.
“For the really poorly patients who can’t hold the tablets themselves, these new tablet holders mean they can stay connected with their families, feel happier having longer video calls, and not worry about giving nurses any strains for holding the tablet for so long.
“These small objects make the biggest difference to all of us here in ICU.”
The tablets and holders funded by our donors have provided a lifeline to many patients during an incredibly difficult time. In the future, they will continue to connect patients with loved ones and make the experience of staying in the hospital less isolating.
