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Hospital program provides clothing to patients in need

Dec 8, 2017 | 3:55 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — A program at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital is making sure patients are taken care of, even when they walk out the doors.

The Medicine Hat and District Health Foundation has thrown its support behind the Warm Hands, Warm Hearts program at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. The program is run by the hospital’s social work department.

“It’s important to them, it’s important to all of us, that we send everybody home from the hospital warm and healthy and ready to start with a fresh start,” said Heather Bach, executive director of the health foundation.

On the sixth floor of the hospital, the clothes sit in a closet, ready to be handed out when needed. The clothes are primarily for adults, and include everything from toques and gloves, to socks and shirts, and even some winter coats.

“The purpose of it is to make sure everyone has the appropriate clothing when they leave the hospital,” Bach said. “Whether the weather changed when they came in, and they don’t have a hat and mitts when they leave, or if they came in an emergency situation and don’t have clothes at all.

“It’s basically a clothes closet for emergency situations to make sure everyone goes home warm.”

Bach adds the primary cases which clothes are needed for are mental health calls and people who were admitted to the emergency room.

“It’s an ongoing need,” she said., noting the closet tends to be accessed every week.

Bach says the clothing was initially donated by staff at the hospital. A partnership with a local store at the Co-op Mall also helped fill the shelves, as well as community donations.

The health foundation is accepting donations of gently used clothing for the program. Those interested in donating can call the Health Foundation at 403-528-8133, or visit the Health Foundation’s office on the third floor at the hospital.