Milton Keynes Hospital offers to laminate photographs of people unable to visit their loved ones due to new coronavirus rules

They are inviting people to email letters to patients and send one or two photographs.

"We will print out your letter and laminate any photographs and deliver them to your loved one," said a spokesman.

The hospital has set up a special email address for the service - [email protected]Senders are asked to provide the patient's full name and date of birth in the email.

MKUH has banned all visitors to wards, with the exception of Maternity and Paediatrics, in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Relatives and friends can however, drop off a bag filled with goodies at the main reception and this will delivered to the patient.

The bag can contain clothes, toiletries, books and magazines, cards, notes, pictures, non-perishable foods such as biscuits and drinks such as fruit squash in sealed containers.

The bag should be clearly marked with the patient’s name and date of birth. and dropped off before 2pm each day.

Flowers and balloons cannot be accepted and the hospital is advising against including valuable items such as electrical items or jewellery,

Meanwhile the maternity department has introduced more restrictions from this week.

Partners are only allowed to attend booked scan appointments such as the 12 week and 20 week scans. The partner must be well and no children are allowed.

No partners can attend early pregnancy assessment scans or growth scans,

On the Labour ward, one partner is permitted. After the baby is born, one partner can visit but only for a maximum of 90 minutes per day.