Caring for someone coming out of hospital

Planning
NHS Responsibilities
Who can provide help?
How do I get help?
How to complain

Leaving hospital can be a difficult experience, especially if the person leaving hospital is unable to cope as they did before.  It can be a difficult time for carers too, whether or not you have considered yourself a carer previously.

When hospitals discharge someone, they have a duty to consider the needs of the person being discharged and the needs of their carer. 

The person leaving hospital may be entitled to up to 4 weeks free home support if they need it, are aged 65 and over, and were not receiving it before entering hospital.  However, if the person was already receiving services before entering hospital, this four weeks may not be free.  If the hospital stay was long-term, care will need to be reassessed once the patient is discharged.

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Planning

Before a patient is discharged, they should be interviewed in the ward, a questionnaire should be completed and a copy given to the patient.  A hospital discharge plan should be prepared, including

• The name of the member of staff at the hospital who is responsible for checking that the person is discharged properly
• Details of any support, help, equipment or adaptations which are to be set up before discharge, and information about who is responsible for providing these
• Details of any contacts to be made to the community health services, such as GP, district nurse or social worker

 

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NHS Responsibilities

The NHS has a duty to fund a range of services, including:

• Rehabilitation and palliative (relieving but not curing) care
• In-patient care under specialist supervision in a hospital or care home for people who need it
• Respite care, particularly for people who have complex or intensive health care needs, requiring specialist nursing or medical supervision or assessment during respite care or who could benefit from active rehabilitation
• Are receiving palliative care in their own homes but who are in need of respite

 

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Who can provide help

There are a number of different types of assistance the person you care for might need when they come out of hospital.  These might be organised (but not always paid for) by the NHS or Local Authority Social Work Departments.

• Some health services are provided from hospital, such as home visits from a physiotherapist or speech therapist.  But most are provided by the community or local health services
• A district nurse might visit to change dressings or give injections and may also be able to arrange equipment such as bedpans or a commode
• A health visitor can offer advice and information on day-to-day problems
• Your GP can arrange for specialist community health care
• Social Services may be able to provide services such as

- Personal and Nursing Care
- Care at Home
- Home Adaptations and Equipment
- Meal Services
- Day Care
- Respite Care
- Transport Services

 

All services apart from Free Personal and Nursing Care may be charged for, although a Financial Assessment can determine if someone is entitled to help with payment.

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How do I get help?

Important decisions may have to be made quickly when the person you care for is in hospital.  You may feel put on the spot by hospital staff who may make assumptions about the amount of help you can offer.  You should not feel pressurised into agreeing with anything.  Contact your local Social Work Department to arrange an Assessment of your Care Needs (or re-assessment if needs have changed).  If you provide substantial and regular care, you may also be entitled to a Carer's Assessment. 

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How to complain

If at any part of the discharge process you are not happy with matters you can complain.  Every hospital has a complaints procedure and further information can be found on our Complaints page.   Your local Carer's Centre can offer you support, or alternatively ring the CarersLine on free phone 0808 808 7777.

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last updated 02/06/2011