Barwon Health’s Belongings Bags make experiences more bearable

A HEARTFELT initiative led by one of Barwon Health’s Intensive Care Unit nurses is making losing a loved one a little less devastating.

ICU nurse Ashlee Waller begun providing family members who had lost loved ones in the ICU with ‘Belongings Bags” late last year as a way to make attending Barwon Health a bit more personal.

“Anything we can do to make the process of losing a loved one any less awful is always at the top of our priorities,” Ms Waller said.

“It could be a hug, it could be as simple as a touch on the shoulder, but it can make all the difference to making the experience with a little more bearable, and that’s what these bags try to do.”

The Belongings Bags are made completely of upcycled materials, sewn together by a team of volunteers based in Clifton Springs led by Mara Chambers, and holds the belongings that deceased patients arrive to Barwon Health with.

More than 100 bags have been given to family members since the initiative began in October last year when Ms Waller first came across the idea in an Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Magazine article about a nurse from Gippsland.

“I asked my team members if they had material at home and found a group of volunteers to sew the bags,” Ms Waller added.

“The bags are pillowcase size, with a drawstring and inside pocket and have been a great beginner sewing project, providing meaningful conversations for the volunteers.

“I hope this project inspires other areas of Barwon Health to consider doing something similar for their ward.

“I’ve had staff members in the unit that said they were glad to give these bags to patients’ family members to ease the pain, so there is already feedback from others that see this as a somewhat necessary idea.”

Last weekend alone, Ms Waller and her team provided families with six Belongings Bags following the passing of loved ones.