Aberdeen hospital patients keep in touch with loved ones thanks to iPad donations

The Oil & Gas Technology Centre’s donation praised in midst of visiting restrictions

Patients across Grampian’s hospitals will be able to keep in touch with loved ones, despite restrictions to hospital visiting, thanks to a donation from The Oil & Gas Technology Centre.

The hospital’s e-health team were handed 25 iPads by the local business last week as donations flood in from businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. NHS Grampian Innovation colleagues connected businesses with the virtual visiting project team.

Visiting was suspended across all Scottish hospitals last month to help prevent the spread of the virus, but the new technology will help patients who are isolated in hospital keep in contact with those who are unable to visit in person.

The iPads are currently being built to NHS Grampian specification and will be in circulation across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray next week.

Commenting, Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Nurse Consultant and Clinical Lead for the project Lyn Irvine said:

“Thanks to this thoughtful donation from The Oil & Gas Technology Centre, we are able to keep patients in our care in touch with their loved ones.

“Virtual visiting is an addition to NHS Grampians already established welcome ward – person centred care and visiting initiative. This will have such a positive impact not only on our patients in our hospitals across Grampian but our staff caring for them and the patients families too.

“The importance of contact from friends and family in someone’s mental wellbeing and physical recovery cannot be understated – especially in the situation we all find ourselves in today.

“This is another great example of how the needs of every individual patient remains the driving force of the care they receive during their time with us in NHS Grampian in-patient settings.”

Nicola McIntosh, Finance and Commercial Director at The Oil & Gas Technology Centre (OGTC), said:

“During these times it is important that now, more than ever, we support one another and technology has a key role to play in keeping us connected.

“There are many ways to support those who are in hospital during this time and we are glad we can help them connect with others. The iPads we have donated will give them access to the NHS Virtual Welcome Wards, a great platform to help those in hospital to stay in touch with friends, family and loved ones.”