Hospital visit.

there is a brilliant website called 'notanotherbunchofflowers' It was started by a young woman who had gone through breast cancer (and lost her own mother to it) - she has loads of things that are most welcome in difficult situations. It really is excellent.

Definitely personal care stuff. I recently spent 8 days in hospital and the best gift ever was a package of hand cream, hand sanitiser, shampoo, conditioner and soap. Magazines are great, too, though you can't always be sure which ones have already been bought and read!

Oh dear, the suggestion of a scented candle made me laugh.
With oxygen around? ??

How quickly can an entire hospital be evacuated when the alarm and the sprinklers go off?

I use 'Not another bunch of flowers'. It's a website created by a girl who herself had cancer treatment. Excellent service by a lovely lady

Is she in hospital?
If not then there is so much to choose from.
If in hospital then can I suggest back off with the scented stuff. Other people on the ward may hate the smell.
If she is in her own hospital room then of course there is more scope.

I was once in hospital for seven months. The best gift I had by far was a blanket/throw that went on the bed instead of the hospital blanket.
It brought a much needed touch of homeliness and normality to hospital life.

The nurses didn't bat an eyelid. The assistants that changed the bed said how nice it was, no one said it's not allowed.

I was bedridden for a few months where it kept me cosy, then once propped up in a chair it was lovely over my legs for added modesty as well as banishing that notorious chilly leg syndrome

I still treasure that blanket, it signifies comfort when I was in a very bad way.

Depending on her present state of health, maybe she’d like a small one of those colouring-in books and pencils, which she could pick up and put down when she’s had enough.

Hadn't thought about a scented candle not being allowed in hospital Whoops
You could offer do her nails as its always a lovely treat

If you've got lavender hand cream how about lavender oil, a couple of drops on a pillow can be very relaxing.

Maybe you could read to her? Being read to is a real treat no matter what your age. Or an audio book? Or even a recorded newspaper? Definitely lots of lavender or rose scented things, or something soft and cuddly?

Thanks ,even more ideas. I’m making up a little bag of toiletries including quite a few that you ideas from you all.

A 4711 eau de cologne 'cool stick' is very soothing on the forehead or on the wrists. It's one thing I would love to have if I was stuck in hospital.

When my DDs MIL went into a hospice recently I sent her a scented candle via Amazon. Sadly she died soon after.

Google "Dont buy her flowers" they do gift packages with thoughtful items for people with cancer and I think they donate a percentage to Cancer research

pinkshoes, if I ever end up back in hospital I'd like someone like you to come and visit

When my friend was in Palliative Care I used to take manicure tools and some nail polish, and massage oil. I'd massage her hands, feet and legs, and paint her nails. It was a good way to divert all the talk away from her health issues. We ended up talking about anything and everything, and I treasure the memories of those few last days .

How about a selection of old fashioned sweets she remembers with fondness and might tickle her tastbuds.
Here's wishing her all the best.

Mabon, a lot of single use things are not very good for the environment, but perhaps this case is not quite so bad as others. The wipes themselves do actually biodegrade in the end. The paper contains a chemical known as a 'wet strength resin' which is what stops the wipes falling apart to mush in the packet, or your fingers going through them like a wet tissue. But this wet strength effect doesn't last indefinitely. The packaging is more of a problem. But someone terminally ill, perhaps in an infectious risking environment like a hospital, seems more justified in using them than e.g. the rest of us at the end of a meal in a restaurant, say.

a nice room diffuser?

If your friend is in Hospital a scented candle would not be suitable, but definately lovely if she is at home.Lip balm and hand cream would be nice too.

Lip salve and dry shampoo sound perfect. I will certainly remember them now. Thank you P26.

Good morning all. Just been through this sad time with a relative about a year ago. My gifts were a home made peg bag to hang off the locker ( the lady used it for her washing). Inside I put a pack of 5 pants. She was very gratefull of the new pants. A diffrent time I took wet wipes with name on packet so they would not walk to another bed. Lip savele, dry shampoo, change for shop cart. This lady liked x2 papers daily. Visitors could read aloud bits. Someone brought in a radio for music. A bird feeding stand was placed outside window. We spent time just taking turns beeing there. Asleep or awake. I liked to hold her hand as it gave the feeling of someone there with her. She had her own phone so family and friends could ring - even if it was a visitor that gave an update. One time family aranged (paid for internet) so we could facetime family to far away. She asked for orange and apple juice. Hope it helps

These wipes should be banished they are mostly non biodegradable. Have you not seen the recent television programmes or heard Radio 4 very recently?

A nice scented calming candle?

NemosMum pretty much beat me to it word for word. Reminiscence in these circumstances can be wonderful fun and often full of laughter. Appropriate photos every time for me.

When I had my first operation my sister gave me a little zipped bag with wet wipes, tissues, lip balm and hand cream.
I was very grateful for the lip balm after several days on oxygen my lips were very dry.