A scheme encouraging people to keep their medical details all in one place has been given a boost following a donation from an Ipswich charity.

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust’s (EEAST) Message in a Bottle initiative urges people to keep their important documents - including emergency contact details and information about medication - in a bottle in the fridge so they can be easily accessed when the ambulance service attended.

Yesterday members of the Lions Club of Ipswich presented 100 bottles to EEAST in support of the scheme having given out thousands to Ipswich Hospital and GP surgeries over the years.

Victoria Boyce, patient and public involvement manager for EEAST, said: “We’d like to thank the Lions for this generous donation. “We’ll be giving these bottles out to people with medical conditions, which will really help the ambulance service when called to medical emergencies.”

Wendy Cook, President of the Lions Club of Ipswich, said: “Message in a bottle is such a simple idea.

“However, these little tubs really can make a difference in emergencies.

“The Lions Club fundraises locally to pay for the bottles that we then distribute to organisations like EEAST, giving out thousands over the years.

“It is really lovely to hear how well they are being used and, how these little simple plastic tubs can ultimately save lives.”