Kind donations of mobile devices from solicitors firm Simpson Millar and mergers and acquisitions company Benchmark International are assisting a new team at Stepping Hill Hospital who are helping patients staying on the wards to keep in touch with families , friends and carers.

Since the Covid19 outbreak most visits to inpatients have sadly had to stop to help fight the spread of the infection, but staff on the wards have still been helping patients contact their loved ones to ensure family contact is maintained, with the aim of helping them to avoid them feeling isolated whilst in hospital. The newly formed patient liaison team has been established to help this process, consisting mainly of staff redeployed from elsewhere from both hospital and community services in Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, who are now busy visiting inpatient wards across the hospital to keep patients in touch with those outside.

The patient liaison service supports clinical teams by offering a central contact point for relatives to enquire about their loved ones and obtain updates on their condition, whilst they are receiving care. The team provide timely support and reassurance for patients and their families and enable the ward teams to focus on providing clinical care during these difficult times.

Since the team was set up on 25th April they have so far helped provide over 5000 phone calls between patients and family members, carers and friends. A caring presence on the ward, the team, which includes student doctors, bring love-heart shaped card messages of hope, as well as other gifts to patients. 

The new mobile devices from Benchmark International and Simpson Millar are already in place helping ‘virtual visits’ between patients and their loved ones, giving comfort, solace and reassurance to all.

Helen Howard, Deputy Chief Nurse  said “In times of social distancing its important that we don’t become isolated, and that’s especially true for people staying in hospital. If they can’t have physical visitors they need to stay in touch by other means, and the patient liaison team have been doing an outstanding job, working hard to make sure they’re in touch with their loved ones and the outside world. I’d like to thank the team for all for their hard work, and to Benchmark International and Simpson Millar for their kind gift of mobile devices which will be a big boost to them in helping in keeping patients, families, friends and carers in touch.” 

The patient liaison team has over 20 staff who are active between the hours 7:00am and 5:00pm.  You can contact them on the numbers 0161 419 4682 / 4600 / 4950.