What happens while you are in hospital?
The team at the hospital will have helped you get better and as you near the end of your stay, they will talk about next steps to recovery and what care or support you might need.
What happens next?
Once you are well enough to be discharged, the ward and discharge liaison teams will come and speak with you to assess what support and help you already have at home. They will ask you for information to understand if you need to spend some time in a community hospital or a care home before going home or if you can go straight home with either some home care and reablement support or with help from family and friends.
They will need to ask you quite a few questions so you may want someone with you.
Self-funding and Social Care funded?
If it is recommended that you would benefit from a stay in a community hospital you will not be charged. If you are going straight home or to a care home you will not be charged for any care you receive straight away. While you are in hospital you will be asked a few questions about money to see if a financial assessment is needed to decide if you need to pay for your care after a period of free care. The sooner we can have this conversation with you the more able we are to support you to make the right plans and decisions prior to your discharge.
Some people will be funded by Social Care, but most people will have to pay something towards their care, if you need long term home care or care home.
Services to help you get home from hospital:
B&NES - Regaining your independence:
If you are over 18 and finding it difficult to do the day-to-day things you used to be able to do, we can help you find the support you need, including if you have just had a stay at hospital.
Hospital@Home supports patients to return home where they will continue to receive care, rather than staying in hospital, even though they are medically unwell
Are you worried about going home from hospital? If you are an in-patient in the RUH wards or A&E, St Martin’s Hospital or Paulton Hospital and you live in the Bath and North East Somerset area, are 18 years of age or over and are worried about how you will manage when you get home, we could help.
Our Home from Hospital service facilitates a timely discharge by helping patients to return to a home which is safe, suitable and warm.
We can also carry out free home safety checks and arrange for work to be done when the patient is home, with the aim of reducing the risk of readmission.
Curo - Support leaving Hospital
Ready to leave hospital but can’t go home? We have tailored support and accommodation available. Curo’s Step-down from hospital accommodation is designed to offer a home from home for patients in Bath and North East Somerset who are ready to leave the hospital, but need to stay somewhere with a little more support.
I don’t understand what’s happening or don’t know the answers to the questions being asked, can someone help me?
Yes, you can have a family member or friend with you to help you answer any questions or we can do an assessment to see if somebody else can help you make decisions.
I previously had care at home – can I have this again?
If you have had care before, let the hospital teams know so they can let your care provider know when you might be returning home and be ready to help. If you need more care than you had before do discuss this with your hospital team.
What happens if I don’t agree with the options given to me for my care?
We are in unusual times and care is not readily available in the community or in care homes. However, we will always put your safely and wellbeing first.
- Sometimes it may be hard to find care for when you get home, so you may have to spend some time in a community hospital or care home to help you progress with your recovery before you are able to go home.
- You may be able to change your care plan later if it’s not right for you.
- The voluntary sector can also provide some assistance to help you get home or settle into a care home.
Who will sort out any medication I need when I leave the hospital?
The hospital will discharge you with up to 4-6 weeks medication depending on what you need. They will also send information to your doctor about the medication you need. If you are going to a community hospital or care home this information will go to their medical teams as well.
Will there be any equipment provided to help me?
Yes, the reablement teams will make an assessment when you get home or arrive at the care home or community hospital, to see what equipment might help you now, or in the future.
Can my friends and family help?
We would always encourage you to see how your family and friends can help. The voluntary agencies in your area may also be able to help you with meals, visiting, activities and support in your community, or getting to see a new home.