Dear Friends - Tackling loneliness in Nottinghamshire's hospitals

Our Dear Friend scheme is no longer running but you can now take part in our 'Dear Christmas Friend' scheme. Click here for more information.

About our Dear Friend scheme:

Almost 500 letters were received and shared amongst the patients and staff on the wards at Lings Bar.

Everyone has been really touched by the effort made by the correspondents as many cards and letters have included artwork, pictures and photographs. The contents cover a whole range of topics from landscape, pets, cooking, sports, steam engines, art and art works, books and even interesting facts like ‘did you know that mice are ticklish?’ Some people sent their letters with additional gifts such as mini-Easter bunnies or sweets for staff and patients.

The letters and cards enabled the staff to sit with patients and read a letter together, have a chat about the contents and provide a chance to reminisce and share a conversation that isn’t about illness or anxiety.

The letters, cards and pictures can be sent home with a patient upon discharge, or used to decorate lockers, walls and rooms to help the patients remember that they may be in hospital but they have not been forgotten.

Some of the reactions have included: “I’ve just read a card to a patient – there are no words to describe his face and the reaction it got. Makes such a difference.”

“That’s really touched me. Thank you.”

“Such beautiful cards and letters.”

“My patient was really anxious. I read him a letter and, for 5 minutes, I know he was somewhere else.”

The letters have also benefited people in the community who want to do something useful at this time. The scheme enables people to do something immediate, dynamic and thoughtful whenever they want, especially if there aren’t any current volunteer vacancies. It is a way of contributing to the collective effort that is manageable, doesn’t take up too much time and which can be repeated over and over.

Hundreds of individuals have responded as well as staff members from Age UK Notts’ corporate and statutory partners such as Capital One, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue, and HSBC Bank Community Champions. Heymann Primary School has also supported the scheme by encouraging children to write and send pictures as part of their home schooling.

Sara-Jane Ashmore, Divisional General Manager of Community Health Services at the Trust said: “This has been a fabulous effort from everyone and really has made a positive difference to our patients, it has really been appreciated from us all. An excellent example of how people can make a difference in difficult times.”

Thanks for providing some much-needed cheer and celebrating the traditional art of letter writing!