ONE of the hardest tasks facing family members following
bereavement is having to collect a loved one’s belongings.
But a new initiative instigated by our In Patient
Centre Senior Sister Laura Chesters is aiming to make that experience just a
little easier to handle.
“We used to give people clear plastic bags for belongings
but one day I saw a relative leaving the IPC with one of those bags and I
thought it looked so undignified,” Laura explains.
“That’s not what we’re about at St Luke’s and I really
didn’t like it, so I decided to look at alternatives.”
The solution eventually agreed on was a special canvas bag,
big enough to take away clothing, with a smaller trinket bag for more personal
items like rings, watches and jewellery.
The bags have no St Luke’s branding but do feature a
discreet floral design that mirrors the St Luke’s annual Celebration of Life
daisy concept.
The bags, which are eco-friendly and re-useable, were
launched a few weeks ago and have proved instantly successful.
“The team really like them and feel much more comfortable
giving them to relatives and loved ones,” Laura says.
“It’s a simple thing that can make a big difference and it
also means that if we see somebody carrying one of the bags we know what they
are here for can be supportive.”