Red Bag Sandwell is a new initiative, designed to help support care home residents if they need to go into hospital

Red Bag Sandwell

A quick guide

An overview of Red Bag SandwellThe pathway is designed to support care homes, ambulance service and local hospitals to meet the requirements of the NICE guidance [NG27].

Key outcomes• Efficient and effective transition between inpatient hospital

settings and community or care home settings for adults with social care needs

• Targeted care and support through improved communication• Reduced length of stay in hospitalPrinciples of the Red Bag InitiativeThese are the principles of the Hospital Transfer Pathway:• Relevant professionals who meet the resident know their

personal information (who they are, what their health and social care needs are when they are well, and what their wishes and preferences are)

• Relevant professionals who meet the resident know what the reasons are for them going to hospital

• The resident has a red bag that contains their personal information documents, their medications and their belongings and clothes for travelling home in

• The resident, or if they don’t have the capacity, their lasting power of attorney or a best interest decision, consents to their personal information being shared between the care home, the hospital and the ambulance service

• The hospital and ambulance service communicate all relevant information about the resident with each other and with the care home

www.sandwell.gov.uk/redbag

Red Bag Sandwell

For more information visit www.sandwell.gov.uk/redbag

Red Bag Sandwell is provided by the Better Care Fund, working together to integrate health and social care services in Sandwell

Red Bag Sandwell

Red Bag Sandwell ensures care home residents who are transferred to hospital will be given a Red Bag which contains standardised paperwork, medication and personal belongings. The bag stays with the individual from the time they leave their care home to go to hospital, until the time they return to their care home at the end of their stay in hospital.

Red Bag Sandwell Red Bag Sandwell

Red Bag Sandwell

Red Bag Sandwell

Red Bag Sandwell

Red Bag Sandwell

Red Bag Sandwell

This initiative will focus on residents in care homes who are transferred to hospital within Sandwell and is aimed at improving transition along the hospital pathway as per NICE guidance.

Based on a successful scheme in London, the Red Bag project was introduced to address gaps in the care and support network locally. The initiative has delivered a number of outcomes where it is already in place, these include improved customer experience and reduced length of stay within hospital.