Burton Rotary Club Marks Milestone with 200th Hospital Pack at Queen’s Hospital Burton

Our friends at Burton Rotary Club celebrated a significant milestone on Friday, 9 May, with the presentation of the 200th ‘Home from Hospital Pack’ at Queen’s Hospital Burton. The initiative, led by club ex-president Mel Thomas, has been running since 2021 and is supported by our Charity.

The ‘Home from Hospital Packs’ provide small care packages to patients leaving the hospital, aiming to help them settle back into life at home with essential items like tea bags, semi-skimmed milk, tinned goods, crackers, biscuits and tinned fruit. The packs are handed out by hospital staff in the discharge assessment unit to patients who may need extra support as they transition back home.

Mel Thomas, ex-President of Burton Rotary, who has been running the project since the start said, “One of the core aims of Rotary is to support the quality of life for people in their communities therefore we are constantly looking for major projects that will benefit the community. This led us to identify a need for the ‘Home from Hospital Packs’ initiative. We have been delighted with the support we have had from the hospital and the response from patients receiving the packs and we have worked very closely with the team at the Discharge Assessment Unit (DAU) since we delivered the first Hospital Pack in 2021.”

The milestone event was attended by Jacob Collier, the newly elected Labour MP for Burton and Uttoxeter, who was born at Queen’s Hospital. Jacob joined Mel Thomas, members of the hospital team and Jill Matthews, Chief officer of Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity, to recognise the impact of the initiative.

Jacob Collier MP said “It’s wonderful to have such a valuable initiative at Queen’s Hospital. For many patients at the Discharge Assessment Unit, these hospital packs are a lifeline. They provide essentials for those in need, whilst also helping to prevent delays in discharging patients and increase capacity within the hospital.

Jill Matthews, Chief Officer of Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity, praised the ongoing collaboration “The Rotary Club’s commitment to supporting our patients is truly commendable. These packs provide a simple yet powerful gesture of care and compassion. The impact has been incredibly positive.”

Hospital team members, including Senior Sister, Katie Pickering and Apprentice Health Care Assistant, Matilda Bland – who also run an on-site food and clothing bank to support patients gathered to mark the occasion.

The ‘Home from Hospital Packs’ initiative exemplifies how community organisations like Rotary can play a vital role in enhancing patient care and supporting those in need during vulnerable moments.

If you’d like to support our charity, please visit www.dbhc.org.uk or email uhdb.charity@nhs.net