Patient property drop-off service launched at local hospitals

A new patient property drop-off service has been launched at local hospitals run by the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group.

The service allows a relative or friend to drop off essential items for their loved ones who are staying in hospital.

The service is run between 9am until 4pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) at each of the NCA’s main entrances (patient/visitor only entrances) at Rochdale Infirmary, Fairfield General Hospital, The Royal Oldham Hospital, and Salford Royal.

Items which may be dropped off can include:

• a change of clothes or underwear;
• mobile phone, tablet, headphones, e-reader and charger;
• reading glasses, dentures and hearing aids;
• toothbrush, hairbrush and a small number of other bathroom essentials;
• a small comforting personal item such as a photo, book or magazine.

The items should ideally be packed into a clear plastic bag, with the name of the patient clearly visible and the ward that they are on.

A team of volunteers will receive the items at the hospital entrances and ensure that they are delivered to your loved ones on the ward.

Full details of what can be dropped off for your relative/friend can be found here:

• www.pat.nhs.uk/news/Latest-Visitor-Guidance-to-our-Hospitals.htm

Details of patient/visitor entrances at the hospital sites can be found here:

• Rochdale Infirmary site map: www.pat.nhs.uk/Getting Here/Rochdale Map and A-Z Directory.pdf
• Fairfield General site map: www.pat.nhs.uk/Getting Here/Fairfield Map and A-Z Directory.pdf
• Royal Oldham site map: www.pat.nhs.uk/Getting Here/Royal Oldham Map and A-Z Directory.pdf
• Salford Royal site map: www.srft.nhs.uk/useful-information/how-to-get-to-the-hospital/

Tammy Pike, Group assistant director patient/service user experience quality improvement department, said: “With restrictions on the visitors allowed on our hospital sites at the moment, it is important that we do everything to keep our patients connected with their loved ones. The property drop-off point is another example of how the NCA family is helping families using our services to stay connected.

“It complements our NCA Send a Letter scheme which enables families and loved ones to email their relatives at a dedicated address, monitored by staff from our volunteer services team. The letters or photos are printed out by our staff, laminated and taken to the ward where the patient is being cared for."

Loved ones with relatives at Rochdale Infirmary, Fairfield General Hospital and The Royal Oldham Hospital should email sendaletter@pat.nhs.uk, whilst loved ones with relatives at Salford Royal should email sendaletter@srft.nhs.uk.

Families are asked to include the patient’s name, date of birth, hospital site where they are being treated and the ward or department number.