Going into and leaving hospital

Remember to let your relatives and friends know that you are going into hospital. Make sure you tell them:

• which hospital you are going to
• the hospital switchboard number - this should be on your admission letter
• which ward you are staying on, if you know.

If you are employed or carry out volunteer work, make sure you let the person in charge know. This is so they can:

• make sure your role is covered while you are away
• look at any adjustments they may need to make to your role and/or working environment before your return.

If you currently receive care and support from us, you should let your support worker know you are going into hospital if you:

• expect to be in hospital for a while. They will inform anyone who currently provides you with care or support services
• are going into hospital for a day surgery appointment and you know you will need specific care and support afterwards. They can arrange for an assessment of your needs, or signpost you to other organisations that can provide the support you need.

Use the usual contact details you have for them to let them know.

You must tell the office that pays your benefits as soon as possible if you:

• go into hospital for 1 night or longer
• stay in a care home or rehabilitation centre for 1 night or longer
• will miss a Jobcentre Plus appointment because you’re in hospital or have a medical appointment.

A friend or relative can call for you.

Please note: your claim might be stopped or reduced if you do not report a hospital stay.

Learn more about reporting a hospital stay on the GOV.UK website.

If you are an adult carer, you may be worried about who will care for your loved one while you are in hospital.

We have a range of services available to support adult carers, including advice on arranging care so you can take a break from your caring role.

If you have children, plan who will take care of them while you are staying in hospital. This can be tricky and vary depending on your personal circumstances.

If you do not have a partner, talk to family or friends who may be able to help.

Support and safeguarding hub

If you have no one who can help you, you can contact our support and safeguarding hub. A social worker will be able to discuss your situation with you and talk through the next steps to find a solution and make sure your children are looked after.

During normal office hours (Monday to Thursday, 8.30am - 5pm, Friday, 8.30am - 4.30pm):

If you need to talk to someone urgently outside of normal working hours, you can contact our emergency duty team:

Please note: a telephone operator will answer your call and take your details. They will pass them to the emergency team who will return your call as soon as possible.

There may be times when they are dealing with a number of enquiries or carrying out an urgent assessment - you'll be advised on any potential delays when you call.

If you live with animals, here are some ways you can make sure they are cared for while you are away:

• ask a neighbour - if you are not going to be in hospital for long, you could ask a neighbour to pop in regularly to check on animals like fish, birds or reptiles.
• speak to family or friends - you could ask your family or friends to stay in your home while you are away to look after your pets. Alternatively your pets could be guests in your family or friends homes.
• use a pet sitter - consider contacting a professional pet sitter, who can stay in your home while you are away, or move your pet in with them. Learn more about pet sitters on the NarpsUK website.
• send your pet on holiday - there are a range of local dog kennels and catteries available who offer pet boarding services. If you do not have one you usually go to, you could ask friends or family for recommendations. You can also view a list of businesses who are licensed to provide boarding on the East Riding of Yorkshire website.
• reach out to The Cinnamon Trust - if you are aged 60 or over, or in the later stages of a terminal illness, you could contact The Cinnamon Trust. They are a national charity who can look after a variety of different animals while their owners are in hospital. This is a free service, but relies on volunteers so it has limited capacity in some areas. Find out more about foster care for your pets on The Cinnamon Trust website.

Think about any services you will not need while you are in hospital. You could:

• Contact your milkman to cancel any milk, bread or juice deliveries.
• Make sure you contact your newsagents to cancel newspapers or magazines.
• Suspend any online subscriptions, such as with Amazon or pet food deliveries.
• Consider using Royal Mail’s Keepsafe service if you have no one to collect your mail. They will hold onto your mail for up to 2 months and deliver it when you return to your home. Find out more about Keepsafe on the Royal Mail website.

Here are some tips to keep your home safe and secure while you are in hospital:

• Switch off all electrical appliances.
• Shut down water at the mains.
• Turn central heating off (or if it’s likely to freeze, leave it on a low heat to protect your pipes from bursting).
• Make sure that your windows and doors are locked.
• Consider asking someone you trust, like a family member or friend, to look after your house keys and valuables. It is also worth asking them to check on your property to do routine things like clear the mailbox and water plants.

When you get home from hospital you are likely to have a period of recovery before you feel like yourself again. Try to prepare for this now so you are more comfortable when you return, for example:

• Think about which rooms you’ll be spending most of your time in when you come out of hospital and put things in easy reach, such as the TV control, a radio or a box of tissues.
• Check how your furniture is situated. Is there a clear path through your home so you are less likely to trip or fall?
• You may want to reorganise your kitchen so your kettle and tea or coffee is near the kitchen sink, and you have a good stock of food that is easy to prepare.
• In your bedroom, if you are only going into hospital for a short time, you might want fresh bedding on the bed and a good book on your bedside table.

For more hints and tips, check out our guidance for making your home a safe environment.

Make sure you read your admission letter so you understand:

• where you need to go and for what time
• if you need to refrain from eating before you go into hospital
• what you are having done, and what to expect afterwards.

If you know you’re going to be in hospital for some time, it’s worth making a list of what to take. It can be easy to miss something, especially during what can be a stressful time. If you’re admitted in an emergency, this list might come in handy for your family and friends to refer to.

Essentials:

Other things to bring:

Things not to take:

Make sure you know how you are getting to hospital. If you do not have anyone who can take you, find out what other options there are for getting to and from hospital.

Before you go into hospital, we recommend that you do the following (if you can):

• have a bath or shower
• wash your hair
• cut your nails
• put clean clothes on.