By Carole Dennett
The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has launched a new service for passing on essential personal items to patients. The Trust’s new Family Liaison Team will help manage the deliveries and talk families through the process.
Last month the Trust, in response to the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, placed restrictions on visitors to the St Mary’s site to help keep patients, staff and the wider community safe. Now the Family Liaison Team, part of the Trust’s well-established Patient Experience Team and supported by volunteers, will ensure that patients are still able to have their essential items or home comforts with them.
Alice Webster, Nursing Director at Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said: “We know how important it is for people to feel connected to their homes and loved ones. A few personal items can make all the difference to people while the recover in hospital. The new Family Liaison Team will make sure that essential personal items are delivered to their loved ones, providing that touch of home that we hope will help people get back on their feet.”
A hub set up by The Family Liaison Team, which is separate to the main hospital, will be used to receive and sort the essential belongings that friends and family want to leave for a loved one.
If you have items that you wish to bring in, please first call the Patient Experience Team on 01983 534850 and discuss the time you would like to attend to drop them off. The room will be open between 9 am – 12.30pm Monday – Friday for family and friends to drop off items which will then be taken to the ward.
The Family Liaison Team will do everything possible to accommodate people’s availability. On meeting you they will have a clear plastic bag that people will be asked to put their bag into. They will then deliver it to the named ward.
The Family Liaison Team asks that:
- Items taken in are kept to a minimum as everything needs to be cleaned regularly. They cannot accept perishable items.
- Items taken in need to be small enough to be kept safely in a bedside locker.
- Valuable items should not be taken in because the Trust cannot take responsibility for loss or damage of items.
- Any messages or drawings on paper should be placed in a plastic wallet which can be wiped over.
- Items should be placed in a plastic bag clearly labelled with the patients name, date of birth and the ward in which they are being cared for.
