Harlow hospital patients helped by clothes gift from Asda

The dedicated discharge team at The Princess Alexandra Hospital, who help patients get ready to go home, were delighted to receive a generous gift of clothing from Asda.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust (PAHT) in Harlow has a dedicated discharge team which focuses on making sure that when patients are ready to leave they have the right conditions at home. They are particularly concerned when they know that a patient is homeless or has limited means.

Elderly or vulnerable patients may be admitted to hospital with little or no clothing of their own. The team are pleased that now they now have some clothing available for those patients.

Discharge team member, Stephanie Newman, voluntary services discharge co-ordinator at PAHT said: “The trust has received a gift of £50 worth of new clothing from Asda to help some of our most vulnerable patients to mobilise with dignity, leave hospital in clothing not damaged by illness and for some homeless patients with insufficient clothing.

Thank you very much to Rachel Forth, Asda Community Champion, who organised the donation, We’re very grateful for the support from Asda.”

Stephanie explained that the gift will also help to get patients mobile. The discharge team’s work contributes to the trust’s campaign to encourage patients to ‘get up, get dressed and get better’ as part of a nationwide project known as #endpjparalysis. The campaign aims to get patients mobile to avoid muscle wastage, and being able to provide patients in need with clothing will help the process.

She added: “We are currently applying for additional grants with Asda to continue this much-needed project.”
Pictured are Stephanie Newman, PAHT, Rachel Forth from Asda, and Rachel Harding, complex case manager at PAHT.