The Waikato District Health Board is offering a new service to help family and friends stay in touch with their loved ones.

Through the health board's website friends and family can send a free e-card, which is then hand delivered to a patient while they're admitted to any ward at the Waiora-Waikato Hospital.

The Waikato District Health Board is offering a new online service which allows people to send free e-cards to patients staying at the Waiora-Waikato Hospital. Photo: Waikato DHB

The online system will allow people to choose from several designs which include get well cards for adults and children and congratulations for new arrivals.

Waikato DHB director of business support Melinda Ch'ng says the free cards have great potential to improve the patent's experience.

'People are able to write the message in the patient's own language,” explains Melinda, 'and the ability for patients to keep and re-read the card provides a long lasting reminder of the sentiment shared by their loved ones.”

It follows similar initiatives rolled out in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia and is a simple way of delivering a message when someone may not be able to physically visit a patient.

In early 2016 e-cards will be available for patients at Taumarunui, Tokoroa, Thames and Te Kuiti hospitals.

The launching of this service is part of the health board's strategy to enhance its services to patients and whānau

To use the free e-card service visit the Waikato District Health website at: http://www.waikatodhb.health.nz/for-patients-and-visitors/send-a-free-e-card/