'Virtual visiting' links help KGH patients stay in touch with their loved ones

Patients who are unable to have visitors at Kettering General Hospital have been able to stay in touch with their loved ones through 'virtual visiting' links.

For several months there's been a strict no visiting policy at the Rothwell Road hospital because of the Covid crisis, with only a few carefully planned exceptions.

But a purpose-built application for KGH - called KGH NHS Virtual Visiting - has enabled 25 wards and departments including A&E to help patients see their family and friends.

It's been used to book calls using 50 computer tablets, with more than 1,000 patients and their families benefiting from virtual visits so far with an average call length of 50 minutes.

Kettering General Hospital’s director of nursing and quality, Leanne Hackshall, said: “The people who have using the virtual visiting services have told us how much they value not only speaking to their relative in hospital but also seeing them.

“The great thing about virtual visiting is that it is very safe – all of our computer tablets are cleaned between each use – and it enables relatives to speak to their loved one, and staff members, wherever they are in the country – or in some case even overseas.”

The hospital is also running a care courier service, a patient property drop-off service so a relative or friend can bring essential items in for their loved ones who are in hospital. For more details click here.

KGH also has a "Thinking of You" service, a dedicated email address where loved ones can email a message, picture, or letter and it will be delivered to the patient. The address is: [email protected]

For KGH's visiting arrangements, click here.

The hospital can, in exceptional circumstances such as end of life care, arrange safe visiting.

This should be done through the senior members of staff in the patient’s ward.