Food Aid for Patients Most in Need
Discharge food parcels for vulnerable patients have been provided by BCHC Charity, thanks to a monthly grant from Birmingham City Council’s Emergency Food Aid fund.
The parcels contained non-perishable foods such as soups, pasta, tea, rice, long life milk and tinned vegetables. Originally the project aimed to support the Moseley Hall Hospital Integrated Hub, but due to the increasing need for support since the cost of living crisis began, parcels were also provided to community teams working with patients in the most deprived areas of Birmingham.
“The food supplied has been a very welcomed additional support on discharge for some of our patients that have been suffering financial hardship. It has helped a great deal in supporting the discharge of our patients at the right time, to the right place”, reports Jason Elston, who works at the hub. The parcels, each containing enough items for 3 days, helped patients being discharged to an empty house, into temporary accommodation, or those in financial hardship.
“The Integrated Hub are forever grateful to BCHC Charity for all the help and support they have provided to our patients and as such send a huge thanks to the whole team. Thank you, BCHC Charity!”
The success of the project has spurred funding from The Michael Marsh Charitable Trust and Tesco Groundwork, as well as further grants from Birmingham City Council, which allowed the charity to expand the initiative beyond the discharge hub. The Early Intervention Community Teams, various District Nursing teams, some children’s centres and the Children’s Palliative Care team have since had access to emergency food parcels for those most in need across the city.