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Coming out of hospital

It can be a very worrying time if you are thinking about caring for someone who is coming out of hospital and who can no longer care for themselves in the same way as before.

You may not have considered yourself a carer until now and so will need to come to terms with a completely new situation - perhaps, for example, bringing home an older relative who used to live alone. Or you may have been caring for someone at home but are now unsure whether you can provide the extra care they will need after their hospital stay.

Hospital staff should inform and involve carers in decisions throughout the patient's stay in hospital and in particular in the planning for the patient's discharge from hospital. Carers have told us that sometimes this does not happen as it should.

We set out the process for planning for coming out of hospital as it should happen so you can challenge decisions should you feel that you are not being listened to or involved sufficiently.