Messages aim to spread joy for young hospital patients in the Highlands as well as Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Tayside as The Archie Foundation team joins forces with their NHS nursing colleagues to create a range of colourful postcards
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Young hospital patients facing a difficult diagnosis or challenging treatment will soon be receiving inspirational messages from their specialist care providers to help boost morale and brighten their days.
The Archie Foundation team have joined forces with their NHS nursing colleagues to create a range of colourful postcards to send to patients in between appointments to let them know how special they are.
Featuring bright cartoon characters, animals and superheroes, with messages such as “I bee-lieve in you” and “no-one is you and that is your super-power”, the cards, certificates and stickers were the idea of Gabrielle Armit, a paediatric diabetes specialist nurse at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.
They will be sent to young patients across the Highlands as well as Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Tayside.
Ms Armit said: “As a paediatric diabetes specialist nurse, our patients have a lifelong condition. This can be stressful and overwhelming at times.
“Additionally, with the Covid-19 pandemic we have not seen our patients in a face-to-face way as previously. Receiving a postcard or certificate in the post ensures our patients and families know we are thinking about them and are still available for support. A motivational card boosts their morale and recognises the hard work they continue to put into their diabetes management.”
When she brought the request for support with her idea to the Archie Foundation Tiffeny Rothwell, the foundation’s support and family centre co-ordinator, was happy to help.
Campaigns and creative manager Jamie Smith also swung into action to create the artwork and, such is the success of the initiative, that a wide range of specialist nursing teams across multiple sites are taking delivery of the cards to keep in touch with their young patients, with new stickers also being made available for children attending appointments.
