E-card verses the greeting card

Usually around our annual holidays / celebrations there is a discussion about greeting cards.

On the 9^th of February the BBC reported that hospitals in Cambridgeshire are now providing a new e-greeting card service. The e-cards can be sent to patients through an online scheme, which will then be printed by the Patient and Liaison Service, and then be delivered to the intended recipient.

I had to read the article a few times, thinking I had misread it. I always thought that the point of sending an e-card was that it was an online card. If you print it, you might as well send a card through the post.

I had a discussion last November about another article posted by the BBC that said that the tradition of sending greeting cards ‘wasn’t really a 21 century thing to do.’ I didn’t really agree with the article and through discussions with many people they felt the same as I did.

One of the main reasons I started my greeting card design business was that I have truly loved any greeting cards that I have received over the years, particularly if I haven’t been well. The cards and handwritten messages really brightened my day.

I worked in a hospital a few years ago on a head injury ward, and if you are unwell and haven’t been able to go outside for a while, with the same 4 walls keeping you company for weeks on end, a greeting card can really make a difference. I saw how patients were over the moon when they received post, and I also saw the effects when a patient had very little or no post.

Letters are also a great way to communicate with someone, but what I love about greeting cards is the sheer variety of them, there is a design for everyone, whether you like nature, humour, elegance etc…

I know that we live in a time poor society, and finding a moment to do anything can be hard when our lives are scheduled to the latest second, but how long would it take to remember someone who needs a little encouragement. I am sure we would love it if someone was able to show a little bit of kindness to us.

With this new service that the Cambridgeshire Hospitals have started, if it means that more patients will receive a note / card letting them know that they are loved, and that they have friends and family who can offer support at their time of need, then I’m all for it! But isn’t the NHS busy enough without us adding to the millions of things they have to do each day?

If you know someone who is having a hard time, who is unwell … how about spending a few minutes to help brighten their day by sending a letter or a card.

I would just like to encourage each and every one of us to consider sending a note or a card to someone we know, who would appreciate this in their time of need, whether short or long term.

Send a card, brighten someone’s day

Notes:

Story from BBC NEWS 9th February 2010:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/8507217.stm

The Cambridgeshire Hospital e-greeting card service appears to be free service sponsored by a hospital drama society.