Sharon went along to the official launch of the Just Visiting website to the NHS.

(image copyright NHS Strategic Health Authority, 2009)

NHS North East has become the first region in the country to endorse an
innovative, free service, which aims to make life easier for people who have a
loved one in hospital.

The new website at justvisiting.com provides a free, online meeting place where
friends and family of patients can stay up to date and in touch, from anywhere
in the world and at anytime.

Users can create a secure 'visiting room' and then invite friends and relatives
to join.  The person in charge of the account can post regular bulletins on how
the patient is doing and authorised 'visitors' can leave messages of support for
the patient and for each other.

The Tyneside-based social entrepreneurs behind justvisiting.com today joined NHS
executives at a local hospital ward to unveil the new look website.

David Stout, acting chief executive of NHS North East, says the site is
especially useful for concerned friends and relatives who live away from their
loved ones or can't visit because of other restrictions.

Mr Stout said: "Justvisiting.com is a fantastic idea which makes things easier
for patients, relatives and NHS staff.

"Keeping everyone up to date with how a loved one is doing while in hospital can
be an additional strain during periods of worry or when time is at a premium.

"NHS North East is very pleased to endorse Justvisiting and we would encourage
all hospitals and healthcare facilities across the region to highlight the
website so that more people can share the benefits of using it."


Two of the site's founders, Gateshead publican Paul Smith and his friend, former
NHS manager Jeff Cummings, were inspired to create the site when Mr Cummings'
elderly father was in hospital.

Supported by third director, Michael Lavery, the entrepreneurs are keen to see
their vision made accessible the people around the world, while recognising its
creation in the north east.

Mr Lavery said: "The site has already attracted more than 15,000 visitors and
has users logging on from around the world.

"Everyone we've spoken to has been so impressed with the site's simplicity and
the benefits it can bring to patients, their loved ones, visitors, nursing and
care staff.

"Users of the site can create or visit an 'online visiting room' which
establishes a network for all those touched by a patient's recovery in hospital.
The site is free to use and, unlike other social media sites, complementary
advice and information from established web services like NHS Choices and NHS
Direct is just a click away.

"We have around 175 active rooms at the moment with people across the globe
sharing news and supporting the patient's main carers and visitors. Our ambition
is to integrate this service into the recovery and respite support offered by
the NHS across the country."

As well as gaining endorsement from the NHS, the site has the support of local
MP Sharon Hodgson, author Bill Bryson and prime minister Gordon Brown.

Gateshead East and Washington South MP, Sharon Hodgson, said:

"Prime Minister Brown and colleagues from the Department of Health and the Royal
College of Nursing who attended the event in London were all impressed with the
simple effectiveness of justvisiting.com and the charitable efforts of the team
behind its development.

"I have been campaigning for some time to bring down the cost of hospital
visiting and this service can provide access to so many would-be-visitors who
are put off by cost, access and childcare commitments. Identifying supportive
and complementary services not only for patients but for their families and
friends is central to the Government's vision for healthcare."

Mr Lavery concluded: ""We have begun negotiations with Hospedia, the
organisation behind hospital entertainment units, to bring our service to the
bedside and we're continuing to pursue enhancements to the website with the
support of partners and sponsors. We're delighted to have the support of NHS
North East in helping us fulfil the service's potential."

The new look justvisiting.com website is now live and free to use with a prize
draw for new users registering to the site.

Notes to editors

Case study:  North East NHS Surgery Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead

The state-of-the-art North East NHS Surgery Centre at Gateshead NHS Trust,
adopted the justvisiting.com service at the start of the year following a
successful pilot.

The surgery centre displays justvisiting.com posters and leaflets to signpost
patients, visitors and carers to the website and staff have become advocates of
the service after they saw a sharp reduction in the number of telephone calls
coming into the ward from distant or immobile loved ones enquiring about a
patient's progress.

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust chief executive and Justvisiting patron,
Ian Renwick is excited about the national potential of the service. He said:

"The team at Justvisiting has done an exceptional job in establishing and
developing the service for the benefit of patients, their loved ones and our
staff on the wards.

"It offers an opportunity for patients and visitors to save money on phone calls
and provides greater convenience and an interactive network.  We have also found
that it allows ward staff to focus on caring for patients, rather than handling
telephone enquiries.  It's just a brilliant idea and one that I'd urge all NHS
organisations to endorse."

Justvisiting.com provides ease of access to information, the convenience of 24/7
updates and the chance to save time and money.  It allows a convenient way to
access information without feeling intrusive and without the prospect of having
to respond to unexpected bad news.

"Justvisiting.com is a wonderful idea founded on the principles of real
community and friendship and could provide support to any one of us when those
we love are in need of our care."
Bill Bryson OBE

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Sharon Hodgson MP
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