Red Bag Project making a difference
13 October 2018
Residents in care homes across Coventry are taking part in a new service – one which makes it easy and more efficient for medical staff to keep them comfortable if they need to go into hospital.
The red bag contains all important information about them, such as their health, their likes/dislikes, medication, personal belongings and clothing. If the resident needs to go into hospital for an emergency, the information within the red bag helps professionals to easily access key information and quickly provide the right care.
Cllr Faye Abbot, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “11 care homes are taking part in the scheme already. It’s such a simple process that really can make all the difference to people who are rushed into hospital for emergencies.
“The project also exemplifies how efficiently Coventry works with partner organisations across the city to deliver services.”
The project was rolled out over the summer in Coventry following the success of similar schemes in other local authorities, where it has improved people’s experience of their hospital stay, efficiency in the admission and discharge process and in some cases a reduction in their length of stay in hospital.
A resident who is taking part in the project said: “Using the bag helped me to feel safer. It was a comfort to know my belongings were together and people would know about me when I arrived at the hospital. It made me feel important and noticed.”
A relative of another resident said: “I felt this really helped with my relative due to their health conditions. It put me at ease knowing hospital staff knew my relative’s needs as soon as they arrived.”
The project is being delivered with partnership with organisations across the city, such as Coventry and Rugby Integrated Care Board, West Midlands Ambulance Service, University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire and care homes.
Find out more about the Red Bag Project.