A NEW scheme being introduced to mid-Essex care homes will help elderly residents keep all their essentials in one place.

The Red Bag scheme being launched by Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group will help provide a fast and safe transfer from care home to hospital or another medical branch.

These bags will include important documents about health and medication as well as personal items such as glasses, hearing aids, toiletries and clothes which are all transported with the patient.

Red Bags identify people admitted to hospital as someone who normally lives in a care home.

CCG Chairman Dr Anna Davey: “Most people are familiar with the idea of pregnant women having a bag packed and ready so they can just grab it when they head to hospital.

“But until now, there has been no organised way to help people living in care homes if they are moved somewhere by ambulance.

“We have been working with our partners to launch the Red Bag scheme and hope it will give our care and nursing home residents the best chance of an easy and worry-free transfer to hospital.

“All care homes across mid Essex will receive their new red bags along with an information pack with information about relevant paper work.”

The initiative was pioneered by Sutton Homes of Care in 2015.