The Red Bag scheme was introduced in Glasgow City in July 2018 to 22 care and residential homes to support and improve links between acute sites and care and residential homes. It is a simple idea – working as a visual prompt to provide a central location for the transfer of information, appropriate medication and property in the event of an unplanned visit to hospital. Care home providers, ambulance staff and acute staff have embraced the idea as it supports the unscheduled care journey and they see it as a way of providing more effective care for the individual and as a means of improving communication.

The Red Bag contains standardised information about the resident's general health, any existing medical conditions they have, medication they are taking, as well as highlighting the current health concern. It also has room for personal belongings (such as clothes for day of discharge or wearing if appropriate whilst in hospital - glasses, hearing aid, dentures etc.) and it stays with the resident at all points of the hospital journey. When residents are ready to go home, a copy of their discharge summary (which details every aspect of the care they received in hospital) will be placed in the Red Bag so that care home staff have access to this important information when their resident arrives back home.

Alan Gilmour, Planning Manager said: "The Red Bag clearly identifies a person as being a care home resident and this means that it may be possible for the resident to be discharged sooner. The care home will be more actively involved in discussions with the hospital and has an understanding of the resident’s care requirements on discharge. We are already seeing a range of benefits from the use of the Red Bag and we will aim to continue this including a reduction in the number of care home residents admitted and also a reduction in their hospital stay."

The scheme is being rolled out to all care homes across the Board area during October and November.  For more information contact Alan Gilmour, Planning Manager at alan.gilmour@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

We have also produced a poster which provides more information.