Experience has shown relatives often stayed longer in hospital than they had initially expected when their loved ones were on the point of death. This meant they didn’t have some of the features of everyday life that they would have had at home.
The packs include basic toiletries such as soap, a hair brush, razer, toothbrush and toothpaste, as well as light snacks and a drink.
The packs are being trialled at LPT’s community hospitals, at Coalville, Loughborough, Market Harborough (St Luke’s), Hinckley (Hinckley and Bosworth Community Hospital), Lutterworth (Feilding Palmer), Melton Mowbray, Oakham (Rutland Memorial), and at the two medical inpatient wards at the Evington Centre in Leicester.
In addition, ward staff will have access to mobile phone chargers designed for relatives’ use.
Around 200 patients a year spend their final days in LPT’s community hospitals.
Many more receive end of life care from LPT staff in their own homes