The gesture – designed to help cheer up patients who may be lonely or anxious – will build on an earlier project to deliver birthday cards to patients which the hospital launched in 2023.
It will enable messages of many different kinds to be composed on-line and then delivered in person to the patient by hospital volunteers and funded by the Northamptonshire Health Charity.
The Deputy Head of Volunteer Services at NGH and KGH, Michelle Barnes, said: “Being in hospital can be a very worrying and anxious time for our patients and this is a little gesture which can help brighten up someone’s day.
“We recognise that not all family members and friends are able to visit in person. To help bridge that gap, we are offering the opportunity for family and friends to maintain meaningful connections, providing comfort and reassurance when it matters most – especially when a patient is in hospital during a special occasion.
“Messages can to recognise a special occasion such as a birthday, anniversary, or to acknowledge an important faith or cultural celebration, or to simply something like ‘thinking of you’.
“Sending a message to someone you care about in hospital is simple and thoughtful thing to do and we know, from our previous birthday card initiative, how much it can be appreciated.”
KGH’s Director of Nursing Robin Binks said: “This is lovely new way in which we can help make a difference to a patient’s experience of their time in hospital.
“If you are feeling down getting a special message is something that can cheer you up and bring a smile to your face.
”It reminds you that you are being thought about – even if your message is from a person who may not be able to visit you in person.”
Northamptonshire Health Charity Chief Executive Jonathan McGee said: “We were delighted to be able to support another volunteer-led patient initiative which will make such a difference to patients, their families and friends.”
To send a message to a patient you need to visit our website Special messages for special patient moments | Kettering General Hospital NHS and then choose an card from a range of blank ones which we provide.
Then you write your message of up to 50 words to your friend or loved on.
You will need to include the following information to make sure our volunteers are able to deliver the card to your loved one promptly. If any information is inaccurate, it may not be possible to deliver your card.
The patient’s full name, date of birth, ward name and complete the on-line form using this link, to request a card.
Once your order is received, our Volunteer Services team will prepare and deliver the card directly to the patient’s ward. Messages submitted during working hours (Monday to Friday, 8am–3pm, excluding Bank Holidays) will be delivered the same day; messages received outside these hours will be delivered the next working day.
This is a volunteer-led patient initiative, offered at no cost to families or loved ones, made possible by the dedication of our volunteers and the generous support of Northamptonshire Health Charity, which funds this initiative. For information on supporting or donating to Northamptonshire Health Charity, please visit their website.