Bleed support boxes developed with East Yorkshire families win national safety recognition
The initiative was created after a bereaved relative described the trauma of having nothing to hand when her mother suffered a bleed
A support box designed to help families prepare for the possibility of a loved one suffering a catastrophic bleed at the end of their life has won national recognition.
The Bleed Support and Care Box initiative was developed by staff at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust working alongside bereaved families.
It has been Highly Commended in the Palliative & End of Life Safety Initiative of the Year category at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2026.
Catastrophic bleeds at the end of life are rare, but when they happen they can be deeply traumatic for everyone involved.
The initiative gives families facing this possibility a practical box containing items they may need, aiming to offer peace of mind.
The project was developed after a bereaved family member told Jade Pickin, Professional Lead for Palliative and End of Life Care at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, about her experience.
"Mum collapsed in my arms, covered in blood. We had nothing and I'll never get that image out of my head," she said.
The boxes were funded by the trust's charity, Health Stars.
Each Bleed Support and Care Box contains a dark towel to cover the visual impact of a bleed, a dark fleece blanket for warmth and comfort, along with gloves, an apron and wipes.
The box is accompanied by a leaflet, which was coproduced with families who have experienced this kind of event.
According to the trust, many of the boxes given to families are never used, but knowing they are available is having what it describes as a profound impact on those families.
Families involved in the initiative have praised it for providing dignity and compassion at a difficult time.
One family member said it gave them "peace of mind knowing if the worst were to happen, we had everything".
Another said, "The box and leaflet have really helped me feel less afraid and accept we're not failing her".
The judges recognised how the initiative supported families and helped prevent harm during what they described as something nothing can prepare you for.
Jade Pickin said, "In moments of extreme distress, moving from helplessness to preparedness is profoundly valuable. Our initiative doesn't change the reality of the situation, but it changes how supported and capable families feel within it. We can't remove the grief, but we can reduce fear, uncertainty and feelings of helplessness. I am deeply proud that this has been recognised by the HSJ Patient Safety Awards."
Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust says it places patient care at the heart of its services, and that the initiative helps protect patients' loved ones from feeling fearful or helpless during an already difficult time.