A volunteer run ‘Give and Go’ initiative which allows friends and families to safely hand over personal items to loved ones in hospital has proven a major hit with patients across the region.
Bringing smiles to the faces of patients on a daily basis since launching in Glasgow Royal Infirmary four weeks ago, the service has since enabled thousands of personal bags to be delivered to patients unable to receive visitors. The success has seen the initiative rolled out to the QEUH, RAH, IRH and Gartnavel, with plans for a further rollout underway.
Staffed by NHS volunteers, relatives and friends are able to pass over sealed bags at designated drop-off points. Bags can contain personal items such as toiletries, snacks, mobile phones and iPads, books and clothing, which are then passed on to the patients by the volunteers.
Patients can also have personal clothing laundered and returned using the service, which follows strict infection control measures to ensure the safe handling and delivery of items.
Since launching, patients have been reunited with loved items of clothing, their favourite books, and been able to keep in touch with family through their phones and iPads.
QEUH patient, Sandy Dolan, was admitted to hospital without his mobile phone charger but through the Give and Go scheme, he has been reunited with friends and family over the phone, thanks to one of the 30 plus volunteers working at the hospital, who delivered his charger to his room.
Margaret Connolly, assistant chief nurse at NHSGGC, helped roll out the initiative across Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Margaret said: “Give and Go plays a crucial role in helping us continue to deliver person centered, compassionate care to patients in the midst of the pandemic.
“The feedback has been wonderful, and it’s brought a smile to thousands of patients across acute sites. The current situation means it can be difficult for patients who perhaps feel isolated or lonely because they can’t receive visits from their families in the way they normally would.
“The Give and Go service can’t replace that, but it does go a long way to making patients feel more comfortable during their hospital stay.
“I’d like to thank all the volunteers and staff who have been involved in the delivery of this service, which has proven so valuable to so many.”