New patient property drop off service launched at The Royal Oldham Hospital

The new service is available weekdays between 9am and 4pm.

A new service to get belongings to patients in the Royal Oldham Hospital without going onto the wards has been launched.

It means patients can be delivered things like a change of clothes or underwear, mobile phones or tablets, or toiletries while maintaining a good social distances.

The patient property drop-off service is being run by the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group.

It runs between 9am and 4pm on weekdays (excluding bank holidays) at the main patient or visitor entrance.

The list of items that can be dropped off includes; 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 loved ones on the ward.

Tammy Pike from the Group 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 The Royal Oldham Hospital should email sendaletter@pat.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."

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