iPads helping relatives see loved ones in hospital

The Queen Elizabeth University Hospitals (QEHB) Charity and children’s charity Libby Mae’s Little Angels have both started campaigns to help connect hospital patients with relatives who cannot visit them due to restrictions around coronavirus.

QEHB is urging people to donate what they can to help provide the iPads to elderly people, many of whom are isolated from their loved ones for most if not all of the day.

And Libby Mae’s Little Angels are hoping to help parents see their sick and vulnerable children using the same method, with premature babies and sick children limited to the same restricted visiting hours as the rest of the hospital.

Back in 2014 Charlotte Sharratt and her husband, who founded Libby Mae’s Little Angels, were left heartbroken when their daughter died just two weeks after being born prematurely.

Throughout Libby’s short life both Charlotte and her partner were able to spend 24 hours a day with their daughter, something which parents now are not able to do.

And she says it was this which inspired the charity to start up the appeal for iPads.

“The charity was first founded in 2013 when we tragically lost our daughter when she was two weeks old,” she said.

“Libby was in Birmingham Women’s Hospital for a week then at Birmingham Children’s Hospital for a week, and we decided when she passed away that we wanted to give something back to the hospitals initially. And since then the charity has grown to an extent where we are supporting the whole of the Midlands region.

“It’s life-changing really, I couldn’t imagine being told that I couldn’t go and visit my baby, especially when they’re in hospital cause they’re poorly. We were lucky to have the two weeks with Libby that we did have, and some parents are having that taken away from them – I know a lot of hospitals now have restricted visiting to one hour a day. Whereas we were allowed two parents for 24-hours-a-day.

“So for someone to be put into that situation where they can’t see their newborn baby who are quite often fighting for their life – I just can’t imagine what they’re going through. So at least to have the technology to, if not see them in person then just see them – it’s just got to be bringing so much comfort for them.”

QEHB have also launched a similar appeal, this time to help connect elderly patients with their loved ones when visiting isn’t possible.

And Alistair Mcintosh, of the QEHB charity, is encouraging people to give what they can to help bring comfort to people in these difficult times.

“Obviously given the circumstances with Covid-19 visitation to the hospital is drastically reduced, so most people who are in hospital won’t be able to receive a visit from their loved ones at this time,” he said.

“So obviously that’s a really difficult position to be in – being in hospital is tough on anyone, but particularly tough if you can’t see your loved ones. And obviously with the situation the way it is at the moment, we don’t know when those restrictions might be able to be lifted.

“So as a charity we were approached by members of staff across some of the wards at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to say that they had the idea to buy iPads, which would then in turn allow the patients that are in hospital to communicate with their loved ones outside.

“The response has been fantastic, but obviously the more donations we have the more of these tablets we’ll be able to provide.”