Local trust pleads for items to help patients stay warm this winter | News

Pictured above (left to right): Jodie Askin, Integrated Transfer of Care Support Officer, Julie Freeman, Discharge Nurse, Paige Hughes, MY Charity Team Administrator, Carol Armitage, Discharge Coordinator, Sharon Winfield, Integrated Transfer of Care administrator.

Patients across Mid Yorkshire are receiving additional support this winter thanks to the return of ‘winter discharge packs’, a joint initiative between Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Integrated Transfer of Care Hub teams, discharge teams and MY Hospitals Charity.

The packs, filled with practical essentials such as nutritious long-life food, warm unused clothing (including hats, scarves, socks, and jumpers), unused blankets, and unopened hygiene items, are designed to ease the transition from hospital to home for patients who may find the colder months particularly challenging.

Aimed at the most vulnerable members of the community, including elderly patients, people experiencing homelessness, and those on low incomes, the initiative offers not only physical comfort but also much-needed reassurance at a critical time. 

Eligible patients are identified by health and social care teams based on criteria such as long-term health conditions, lack of heating at home, limited financial resources, or having no relatives nearby to provide support.

Lyndsey Scaife, Head of Integrated Discharge at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, said:

We are now in our third year of providing these packs for our most vulnerable patients, and each year we see the real difference they make. This year we have expanded our donation request beyond our hospitals and reached out to the wider community through an appeal on social media. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity shown so far and are truly grateful to everyone who donated.

Thanks to support from MY Hospitals Charity, the winter discharge packs are now being distributed across two of the Trust’s sites, Pinderfields Hospital and Dewsbury and District Hospital.

Keith Ramsay, Trust Chair and Chairman of MY Hospitals Charity, added:

It has been inspiring to see these care packs come to fruition for another year and to know they are helping us care for our most vulnerable patients. We hope these packs will ease worries during continued recovery and provide comfort so patients can focus fully on their health and wellbeing.

Those wishing to donate can visit the MY Hospitals Charity Team Hub at Pinderfields Hospital, located next to the entrance of the restaurant, or contact the team at midyorks.myhospitalscharity@nhs.net or 01924 546017.