Keeping vulnerable RBWH patients safe

RBWH Emergency and Trauma Centre Social Work Team Leader James Ready with the backpack beds

An initiative at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) is providing a means of shelter and safety for homeless patients following discharge from the hospital.

The Backpack Beds program, which is run by the Social Work Department, provides lightweight camping swags to patients who present to the RBWH Emergency and Trauma Centre and are unable to locate accommodation.

Homelessness is a major social issue in Australia which has increased significantly over the past five years due to COVID, cost of living pressures, increasing prevalence of mental illness and addiction, lack of housing supply, and reduced resourcing of housing support services.

At present, there are less services and accommodation options to refer patients to, which results in some patients being discharged from hospital to homelessness.

RBWH Emergency and Trauma Centre Social Work Team Leader James Ready said since the program commenced in September 2023, six swags have been provided to patients.

“The swags are a great resource for our staff to provide to specific patients that make a significant difference to their safety and quality of life,” he said.

“The patients who have received a swag have been extremely appreciative.

“They have stated that the swags provide them with shelter, safety and the ability to maintain a level of dignity while they explore ways of transitioning out of homelessness in the future.”

The funding for the Backpack Beds Program is proudly provided by the RBWH Foundation through their Extraordinary Opportunities Grant.