No one should leave hospital to face the cold streets alone. Yet for some of our patients at King’s, that’s the reality they face.
Thanks to generous funding from our supporters, we’ve been able to provide vulnerable and homeless patients with winter warmer packs – filled with essentials like fleeces, scarfs, backpacks, and fresh clothing. We offered more than warmth: we brought dignity, hope, and the reassurance that someone cared.
How winter packs made a difference
Feedback from staff and patients show the extraordinary difference these packs made:
- A gift of warmth in winter A rough sleeper arrived in the Emergency Department with no belongings and was freezing cold. Given a backpack with warm clothing, including a fleece, the patient was moved to tears by the kindness shown. The hospital’s homeless team continued to support them through outpatient care.
- Fleeing domestic violence
One patient arrived with no possessions after escaping domestic violence. It was a bitterly cold weekend, but the provision of a scarf and a winter pack made a huge difference. Staff secured temporary hotel accommodation, and the patient described being overwhelmed by the support they received.
- Facing the streets after surgery
A recent amputee was given warm clothes and a winter pack after a shower on the ward. These essentials provided comfort and dignity during an incredibly difficult time.
- From crisis to stability
A patient came in with unmanaged diabetes and no home. After being given winter items, the hospital team helped them access a hostel, then into longer-term housing. Their health improved, and with new stability, they are now volunteering and working towards full-time employment.
Why these packs matter
For patients with little or nothing, these packs can mean everything. They offer warmth and security at a time of crisis, and sometimes they are the first step towards longer-term stability and recovery.
We are proud to support care for patients beyond their hospital stay. With the generosity of donors like you, we can fund small but mighty projects like this: projects that change lives.
Donate today
