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Original poster

What would you bring to a friend in hospital?

29 replies

SachaStark · 01/04/2019 20:16

Looking for some suggestions, please!

A very good friend of mine and DH has been involved in a terrible accident. He's going to be okay, but he was intensive care for a few days, and will be laid up in hospital for much longer. Broken loads of ribs, pelvis, and his dominant arm.

We live approx 200 miles from the hospital he's currently in, but we're going to visit this weekend.

He's obviously laid up and bored out of his mind. What would you bring to him in a gift basket in this scenario? I've never visited anyone staying long term on a ward before, so not sure what to get. He's mid-thirties, and quite laddish.

Thank you for anyone who can help with some suggestions.

OP posts:
ParisWilton · 01/04/2019 20:18

Could you instead ask him if there's anything he needs?

BlueSkiesLies · 01/04/2019 20:20

Think small, not much room by hospital beds

iTunes or amazon voucher so he can download a series

Really good noise cancelling wireless headphones if you can stretch the budget

Some nice food

SavageBeauty73 · 01/04/2019 20:20

Earplugs, books and treat food.

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Palominoo · 01/04/2019 20:20

A cheap mp3 player and load it with loads of good songs?

AllTheCakes · 01/04/2019 20:22

Ear plugs are a must for noisy wards. Some nice snacks. The flavoured squash drops you put in water to make the hospital tap water taste better.

Original poster
SachaStark · 01/04/2019 20:26

Noise-cancelling headphones are a great shout! I hadn't even considered that. We've sent him our Netflix password so he can binge watch stuff on his phone.

OP posts:
Gingerkittykat · 01/04/2019 20:26

I would find out if the TV/ internet are the ones you need to pay for, if so pay for a couple of days. Concentration is hard in hospital, so something to watch rather than books can be better.

If they have a tablet and no internet then some kind of pre paid dongle.

Original poster
SachaStark · 01/04/2019 20:27

The squash drops sound like a good idea, too, thank you! I've never bought them before, so wouldn't have thought of that.

OP posts:
Original poster
SachaStark · 01/04/2019 20:30

I'll have a look around the supermarket for some "boyish" books for him. We are both readers, but very different genre preferences. Think I'll see if I can get him a couple of thrillers to pass the time.

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 01/04/2019 20:31

A really long phone charger cable and a power bank (I have an Anker one and it is brilliant). If he drinks hot drinks, a really good thermal cup like a Contigo (esp as those can be laid down in on your bed without leaking) filled with his fave Starbucks (or whatever). Bag of longlife snacks and pick and mix type sweets (in a tub) so he can pick at stuff - it deals with a lot of boredom.
If he already has a Netflix account, could you run to a couple of months of Readly (its 7.99 a month) - you get access to loads of magazines electronically so he'd have lots to flick through on his phone.
A knork is great one handed (I can only use one due to an accident) - being able to cut your own food makes you feel much more in charge

Original poster
SachaStark · 01/04/2019 20:36

Thanks for all the great ideas, Dibbler. Will definitely be looking into the power bank and charger cable, and the Contigo cup and knork, they sound good and practical as well.

OP posts:
Crownandheelshigh · 01/04/2019 20:44

I was in for 2 1/2 weeks when I gave birth and my son was in for 5 (prem baby) so I basically stayed for 5 weeks. 100% books, long charging cable, power bank, snacks that last a while aswell but aren't noisy, maybe a blanket etc xx

Original poster
SachaStark · 01/04/2019 20:54

Thank you for the suggestions, Crownandheelshigh, think a power bank and long cable are definitely going in this basket right now, along with lots of snacks. I'm sorry to hear about yours and your son's long stay, I hope you're both well now.

DH is ordering a knork as we speak!

DH says he's got Beats headphones with him, so I guess they'll be noise cancelling.

OP posts:
Crownandheelshigh · 01/04/2019 21:11

Thank you. We are good thank you, he's now 19 months old and walking so the fun has started haha. It's just the little things I appreciated really! Oh and as stupid as it sounds for a male! Vaseline! I suffered really bad dry lips in hospital xx

AtleastitsnotMonday · 01/04/2019 22:13

If the hospital has a Costa get a Costa gift card. I’m really not bothered about Costa coffe but a trip down the hospital corridor to Costa was the height of excitement when you were stuck on a ward 24/7

Gramgram · 01/04/2019 22:22

Lipbalm regardless of how laddish he is. Snacks and sweets are also good.

MoorMummy · 01/04/2019 22:28

What a thoughtful friend you are! All fab ideas here, the Readly thing is brilliant, there’s so much on there. Maybe some wrapped snacky things , I personally love the mini malt loaf bars and they come in a few flavours. Or the small packs of biscuits that come wrapped. I think I’d struggle with no WiFi for more than a day or two so if it’s not on tap then yes a dingle dongle thing.

MoorMummy · 01/04/2019 22:31

I got my Anker power bank on Amazon daily deals, it’s about the same size as an I phone, lasts ages, was about £16. And at the risk of sounding like I work for Anker, I got some fabulous Anker NC headphones on there a couple of weeks ago, as good as any expensive ones for £43. Their customer service is second to none.

Sorka · 01/04/2019 22:58

If he’s struggling to move the little toothbrushes that you chew. Vitamin drinks are good too.

NWQM · 01/04/2019 23:21

Id add sachets of hot drinks.... when they do a drinks round staff should be happy to make it & he'll be glad of something different. Costa gift is great when he is mobile:

Peterpiperpickedwrong · 02/04/2019 09:48

Ear plugs for night & eye mask. It is impossible to sleep in hospital.
Lip balm
Breath spray/mint
Do they have flip flops? Showers are grim

Floralnomad · 02/04/2019 09:52

When you get there go out and bring back pizza or something , any hospital I’ve been in lately the food has been absolute crap .

LeesPostersAreInFrames · 02/04/2019 09:56

The friend who brought me in her ipod to borrow was an absolute diamond!

Has he got somebody who can bring him in changes of clothes and do some laundry for him? It was mortifying but I had to get my housemate to bring me in fresh knickers and my parents (other end of country) posted a pack of new ones. Boxer shorts might be a thing he'd need, and comfy pjs not just hospital ones. A big comfy nightshirt, if he would wear one (he's possibly in a hospital one anyway) is much more practical than pjs.

Body moisturiser. My skin got SO dry in that heat and on those sheets.

Just little snacks and stuff. Trashy magazines, they don't take too much concentration.

ginandbearit · 02/04/2019 10:05

Small battery operated fan ..can get them ib Sainsburys etc ..wards can be really hot and stuffy

PurpleCrazyHorse · 02/04/2019 11:22

A plastic cup with a lid and straw. I only had the small thin disposable ones and you just couldn't drink enough. The lid and straw just helped avoid spillages too

Magazine subscription? Maybe have it come to you and post it on, in case he moves wards. He might still be laid up once he gets home too.

Maybe contact him and ask if you can pop to a laundrette and do a load of washing? Depends if he has other friends/family locally.

Get a pizza delivery to the main entrance (pop down and wait for it), then bring it up to the ward for him/all of you.

A phone/iphone stand so he can prop it on the bed table and watch it rather than have to hold it up.