Your hospital stay information guide
No one wants to go into hospital, but unfortunately many of us will have to at some point. Our guide can help you...
A hospital stay can be a difficult time for both you and those close to you. You may be in hospital for planned tests or treatment, or admitted in an emergency. If your treatment is planned, a little preparation can make things easier.
There are strikes taking place in some parts of the health service. However, it’s really important that if you’re unwell or need urgent or emergency medical care that you still contact the NHS for help.
Visit the NHS website to find out more about the strike action and how it might affect you
If you’re referred by your doctor to see a hospital consultant, you can usually choose the hospital you’d prefer to go to and which medical team you’d like to treat you. The NHS e-referral system (previously known as Choose and Book) lets you choose the hospital or clinic you'd like and book your first outpatient appointment.
These questions can help you think about which hospital or medical team to choose:
With planned treatment, you’ll often be invited for a pre-admissions assessment appointment, either in hospital or over the phone. At this appointment, you’ll be given advice about:
If your health condition makes public transport or getting in and out of a car difficult, you may be able to get free NHS transport. Talk to your GP who can arrange this for your first hospital appointment. There may also be a local voluntary driver service you can contact.
If you receive certain benefits or are on a low income, you might be eligible for help with costs of travel to the hospital.
You can also make enquiries with charities related to your condition to see if they can help you with travel costs.
As well as a change of clothes, nightwear and toiletries, remember to pack:
Before you go into hospital, it's a good idea to have a bath or shower, wash your hair, cut your nails and put on clean clothes.
It's best not to take valuables such as jewellery into hospital as there aren't always safe places to store them.
If your hospital stay is planned it’s a good idea to make a few arrangements so that your home is ready for your return. These are some tips:
If you have a fall, a suspected heart attack or a stroke, you may be taken to a hospital A&E department.
The hospital will assess you and decide how best to treat you, taking into account your general health and how it might have contributed to your current situation. Once you’ve been assessed you may be:
If it turns out you're going to have to stay in hospital for some time and you're concerned about the security of your home, raise this with the staff. They can arrange for someone to make the necessary checks.
If you're admitted to hospital and have agreed to the treatment you need, the staff should be able to give you an estimated date of discharge.
Find out more about what happens when you're discharged from hospital
Your State Pension doesn’t change, no matter how long you’re in hospital. But some payments are suspended if you're in hospital for more than 28 days:
If you transfer from hospital to a care home or community hospital for free short-term support known as intermediate care, this counts towards the 28-day limit.
If you receive Pension Credit, suspension of these benefits can affect the amount of Pension Credit you receive. When you leave hospital, you may be eligible to receive these benefits again. However, if your Pension Credit award stops and you're part of a couple where one of you is under State Pension age, you may not be able to reclaim Pension Credit.
Contact the office that pays your benefits to let them know when you go into hospital and then again when you leave. You’ll need to quote the number on your award letter for the benefits you receive.
If your stay in hospital is funded entirely by yourself or privately, you should continue to receive these benefits. You should contact the office paying your benefits to let them know.
We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs.
No one wants to go into hospital, but unfortunately many of us will have to at some point. Our guide can help you...
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