Walsall patients leaving hospital who need extra support to settle at home will be provided with a food package and social contact thanks to a local charity.

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust has partnered up with charity Blessed 2 Bless.

Blessed 2 Bless is a community project designed to help the homeless and wider community who are in need, through its food bank, clothes bank and furniture bank.

The Trust’s patient experience and relations team has organised this partnership after Blessed 2 Bless was recommended by the Walsall Community Network. It follows a previous Hospital 2 Home scheme initiative for patients being discharged from hospital who need some additional help.

Patients are provided with a food box of long-life provisions such as cereal, juice, milk, biscuits, pasta and tinned items such as fruit and soup.

Garry Perry, Associate Director of Patient Relations & Experience, for the Trust, said: “Some patients are vulnerable when they are discharged home and have no means of getting initial provisions after their hospital stay.

“In some cases, these patients are identified through conversations with our staff as being lonely and isolated. For some patients they may be cut off socially or have low income.

“Through Blessed 2 Bless they are provided with a food parcel and there is an onward referral (with their agreement) to one of the Community Network Hubs for a follow up to be made by a social connector.

“Staff also feel supported as discharges can be held up as a result of social circumstances. It enables them to feel that they are providing a compassionate approach to supporting those in need.”

He added: “I am very pleased that we are able to link the social benefits provided by our Community Network with patients who are vulnerable – Blessed 2 Bless are widely recognised already for the support they provide to the homeless and those in need across our communities here in Walsall and beyond.

“The service is an enhancement to patient wellbeing and overall experience of care.”