When someone you care for is in hospital it can be a very stressful time. Carers UK have prepared a handy checklist that can help you understand what to expect and how to prepare for them leaving.
This helpful checklist tells you:
- What should happen before the person you care for is discharged
- What should happen on the day of their discharge
- What should be set up after they are discharged
A summary of what to consider:
- Deciding whether you can care for someone and know that it is your choice.
- If you choose to look after someone after they leave hospital, you should be consulted and kept informed by health and social care professionals.
- Each hospital will have its own discharge policy.
- You should feel comfortable that adequate support has been arranged before they leave hospital.
- Find out what should happen when, and what to do if you feel let down by professional services.
The passing of the new Health and Care Act 2022 means that from July 2022 that NHS hospital Trusts in England have a duty to ensure that family carers are involved as soon as feasible when plans for the patient’s discharge are being made. This applies to ALL family carers of adults needing care and support following hospital discharge.
Note that your level of involvement is based on the patient’s consent. However the Trust also has a direct duty to involve family carers. The law says they must check you are willing and able to care. If you are not able to care, they might need to put in place different or additional arrangements.
