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Kettering General Hospital has launched a new volunteer-led service that allows families and friends to send personalised messages to patients online – which are then delivered in person on a greeting card by hospital volunteers. 

The initiative, designed to support patients who may feel lonely or anxious, enables messages of many kinds to be composed online and delivered for free directly to the patient’s ward on a card which they can choose.

Messages can mark a birthday, anniversary, faith or cultural celebration, or simply say “thinking of you”.

The Deputy Head of Volunteer Services at the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire, Michelle Barnes, said: “Being in hospital can be a very worrying and anxious time for our patients and this is a little gesture which can help brighten up someone’s day.

“We recognise that not all family members and friends are able to visit in person. To help bridge that gap, we are offering the opportunity for family and friends to maintain meaningful connections, providing comfort and reassurance when it matters most - especially when a patient is in hospital during a special occasion.

“Sending a message to someone you care about in hospital is simple and thoughtful thing to do.”

Derek Chester, 91, was visiting his wife Joyce, 87, in hospital on launch day. November 20, 2025, and said he thought the service was a good idea.

He said: “I think it is a good idea and an especially good one towards Christmas when, if you are in hospital, you may not be able to greet your relatives. I think it will make people very happy to get a card.”

Joyce said: “I think it is a brilliant idea. I would be very pleased to get a card, especially if I hadn’t seen someone for a long time.”

KGH’s Director of Nursing Robin Binks said: “This is lovely new way in which we can help make a difference to a patient’s experience of their time in hospital.

”It reminds you that you are being thought about - even if your message is from a person who may not be able to visit you in person.”

Northamptonshire Health Charity Chief Executive Jonathan McGee said: “We were delighted to be able to support another volunteer-led patient initiative which will make such a difference to patients, their families, and friends.”

To send a message to a patient you need to visit our website Special messages for special patient moments | Kettering General Hospital NHS and then choose an card from a range of blank ones which we provide and complete the online form.

Once your order is received, our Volunteer Services team will prepare and volunteers will deliver the card directly to the patient’s ward. Messages submitted during working hours (Monday to Friday, 8am–3pm, excluding Bank Holidays) will be delivered the same day; messages received outside these hours will be delivered the next working day. 

This is a volunteer-led patient initiative, offered at no cost to families or loved ones, made possible by the dedication of our volunteers and the generous support of Northamptonshire Health Charity, which funds this initiative.