Leaving hospital

If you already have care at home before going into hospital, it might be possible to restart this care when you return home. This will depend on whether you need the same amount of care. Hospital or community social care staff can help with this.

You might need short-term support at home to regain your confidence. The ward or social care staff will discuss this with you (see the section on short-term support).

If you need long-term support at home, a social care team member will talk to you about what you need and help you plan and organise it.

Hospital staff can also help with:

• Arranging equipment to help you live independently at home
• Organising your medication
• Transport home
• Discussing discharge plans with your family
• Referring you to a GP or community health team for home visits

If you need support, talk to the staff about what you need and what you want to happen next.

The NHS website has guidance on what should happen when you're released from hospital and information about ongoing medical care.

Find out about equipment and adapting your home

Short term placements are now called Discharge to Assess  (previously known as step down beds). This means you will be discharged through the Discharge to Assess pathway into a nursing care home where you’ll receive additional support and any further assessments.

They are free for up to four weeks. Once you are in the placement you will be assessed by a Discharge to Assess social worker who will discuss your long term needs.

Hospital staff might suggest moving to a rehabilitation unit if they think you are well enough to leave but could benefit from more support from health professionals. Social care staff may also help with planning your discharge from the rehabilitation unit.

If hospital staff and social care staff think you would benefit from moving into residential or nursing care, they will discuss this with you and your family and support you with the process.

So that you have a safe and quick discharge from hospital, your healthcare team may refer you to the hospital social worker team. They will assess your needs and provide information, advice, and support on the best actions to meet those needs.

If you need support when leaving hospital, you can also request an assessment by asking your healthcare team to make a referral for you.

If you think daily routines will be difficult during your recovery, consider what equipment you might need to make things easier when you return home.

There is a range of support available to help with your recovery and help you get back to living your life.

If you have additional care and support needs following your stay in hospital, then the Active Recovery team will assess your needs.

They will then organise a care and support package for you before you return home in order make sure you can recover safely.