Health board launches new service to keep people in North Wales in touch with loved ones while they’re in hospital

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has launched a new service to help people keep in touch with loved ones while they are in hospital.

Whilst visiting times are restricted, people can now keep in touch with relatives or friends by using the new online Letter to Loved Ones service.

Carolyn Owen, Head of Patient & Service User Experience, said: “We know these are very difficult times and so many people are unable to visit family members or friends who are in hospital.

“This simple email service makes it easy for people to keep in touch. We hope this will make what can be a very anxious and sometimes lonely time that little bit easier.”

All you need to do is:

• Start a new email and write the name of your loved one’s hospital and ward in the subject line
• Put your loved one’s full name and date of birth at the top of the email, without this information the board can’t guarantee that the message will reach the recipient
• Write your message, but be mindful of the information in this email and don’t disclose anything confidential or too personal
• Don’t forget to let them know who you are
• Double check you have typed in the following email address correctly and press send to BCU.LetterToLovedOnes@wales.nhs.uk

Unfortunately, at this time the service cannot provide a response from loved ones. To protect patient confidentiality this service is also unable to provide updates about a patient’s care or condition.

Letters to Loved Ones is managed by the Patients Advice & Liaison Support (PALS) service.

The service can also access by telephone from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays), on:

• Gwynedd and Anglesey (west) – 03000 851178
• Conwy and Denbighshire (central) – 01745 448 788 x2736
• Wrexham and Flintshire (east) – 01978 727 020