THE freemasons of South Wales have donated 100 tablet computers to local hospitals to ensure patients can keep in touch with their families.

Families of hospital patients are unable to visit their loved ones because of lockdown regulations caused by the covid-19 pandemic, at this time.

With personal contact not currently possible, patients and families must resort to digital means to stay in touch, and some do not have this facility.

The provision of tablet computers to hospitals throughout South Wales will help keep families connected and help keep patients entertained during their stay in hospital.

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Philip Bevan, who co-ordinated this donation in South Wales, said: “A stay in hospital can be distressing for both patients and their families at the best of times.

“But currently this must be even more so because patients can’t have visitors.

“Hopefully, these tablets can connect families at their time of need and relieve some of those feelings of distress.”

Mr Bevan delivered the tablets to three health boards – Cardiff & Vale, Swansea Bay, and Cwm Taf Morgannwg – for hospitals within their areas.

Mark Calahane, of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: “Thank you for your organisation’s generosity and thoughtfulness at this challenging and too often very upsetting time”.

The donation of tablets computers to hospitals, hospices and care homes is part of a national initiative by the freemasons during this health pandemic.

It has been co-ordinated through a new covid-19 response group, which was formed by the freemason’s governing body in the UK, the United Grand Lodge of England, as an emergency structure in response to covid-19.

Its purpose is to work together to deliver life-changing initiatives – on a national scale – to those in need.

To date more than 1000 tablets have been donated nationally as part of this project.

All the donated devices will continue to be used by the hospitals after the coronavirus crisis is over.