A scheme where emergency service staff can obtain life-saving information about people in seconds has been launched at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.

More than seven million people in Britain keep their personal and medical details inside a “Lions Message in a Bottle” and now Walsall Healthcare’s Patient Relations and Experience Team is getting involved.

The bottles are free and come with two stickers for the front or back door of a person’s home and another to be placed on the outside of the fridge.

The stickers help paramedics, police, firefighters and social services to be able to allocate the bottle and find medical information and details of emergency contacts via the form in within the bottle.

This means the emergency services can obtain potentially life-saving information in seconds when called to a home to provide assistance. It provides peace of mind that prompt and appropriate medical assistance can be provided, and next of kin/emergency contacts can be notified.

If a patient is taken to hospital then the form is taken with them and given to the hospital staff on arrival. The information helps hospital staff find the relevant records and arrange treatment as quickly as possible.

Garry Perry, Associate Director – Patient Relations & Experience, said: “We are happy to support this scheme because it gives older or vulnerable people more confidence about their treatment in an emergency.

“It also gives peace of mind to relatives and friends that essential information will be available in an emergency situation.”

A number of bottles are available, for free, from the Walsall Connected Hub at Walsall Manor Hospital (near Route 122). Anyone is welcome to take one.

The hub itself is a partnership between Walsall Council and local community associations, libraries and partner organisations to signpost to a range of support services.

Drop by the hub or email miabcenorder@lions.org.uk to learn more.