Care Bag and Clothing Project For the Alfred Hospital's Psychiatric Ward WHAT IS THE CARE BAG & CLOTHING PROJECT? The care bags are a welcome gift given to all inpatients on their arrival for a stay at the psychiatry ward. A local sewing group of volunteers make and provide the bags. Inside them are items suggested by the ward’s nurses and social workers to make the inpatient’s stay more comfortable. These items include hair brush, moisturizer, lip balm, water bottle, notebook, pens and more. They are gifted from across the Australia-wide community, to show support and care for people suffering with mental illness. Since many of the inpatients arrive in an emergency context, and 40% are homeless, basic clothing is also provided for the staff to distribute as required. The psychiatry ward comprises 58 beds with an average of 1,300 inpatients a year. The project aim is for all inpatients to receive a care bag upon their arrival to the ward. |