Friends of Dorset County Hospital donate more than 1,000 comfort bags to patients

8 October 2024

An initiative to support patients who are unexpectedly admitted to hospital is going from strength to strength.

The Friends of Dorset County Hospital have been providing free comfort bags to patients who are unexpectedly admitted to hospital.

The initiative launched in May 2023 and the charity have now donated more than 1,000 comfort bags to patients. 

The bags are filled with essential toiletries to help provide a little extra comfort at an often stressful time. The bags include items such as toothpaste, deodorant, tissues, hairbrush, shower gel, lip balm, moisturiser and sanitary products.

This initiative has also been expanded to support families in the Special Care Baby Unit. 

Annette Kent, Vice-chair of the Friends of Dorset County Hospital, said: “We initially donated 50 bags and now we have donated more than a thousand. The feedback we have received from patients and staff has been fantastic and we know we really are making a difference to patient experience with this initiative.”

Sam Warren, Assistant Service Manager in the Emergency Department, added: “We are incredibly grateful to the Friends of DCH for their ongoing support.

“We know it can be scary coming into hospital and not having any belongings with you. The comfort bags really are making a difference to patients and are so appreciated. Just a small act of kindness like this can make a huge difference and we get to see that firsthand.”

The Friends of Dorset County Hospital was founded in 1956 to provide comfort and help to patients and their relatives at the Dorset County Hospital. If you would like to support the Friends of DCH, you can email friends@dchft.nhs.uk or call 01305 255896.