Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are running a scheme for friends and relatives to contact their loved ones being treated on site during the coronavirus pandemic.

The ongoing spread of Covid-19 coronavirus means the hospital was forced to strictly limit visits from friends and family since the outbreak began.

Since then, staff have developed a new scheme called the 'Message to a loved one' service.

Under the new service people can email in messages to their loved ones currently undergoing treatment and staff will print out the messages physically in the form of a letter.

"Our new ‘Message to a loved one’ service enables relatives and close friends to send messages of love and support to patients.

"At a time when visiting is restricted and the need for connection between families and friends is even greater, our messaging service provides a quick and simple way to tell someone that you’re thinking of them and to brighten their day with messages, photographs and memories shared," Kingston Hospital said announcing the scheme earlier this month.

"Relatives and close friends can send an email to khft.messagetoalovedone@nhs.net before 12pm for their message to be delivered direct to their loved one at Kingston Hospital on the same day.

"Messages received after 12pm will be delivered the following day."

Any emails for the service should include the following information to allow the hospital to verify a person's relationship with the patient, Kingston Hospital said:

  • The patient’s full name
  • Your relationship to the patient e.g. daughter or neighbour
  • Either the patient’s date of birth OR the first line of their address