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Adult social care and support

Hospital discharge guide for carers

Contents

Introduction

Looking after someone who depends on you can feel rewarding. It can also be hard, especially when they need to go to hospital.

When someone you care for is in hospital, you may worry about how to support them when they come home. Whether you have been caring for them a long time or are new to it, it is important to know what help you can get for both of you.

You need to find out about what help is available during their hospital stay and when they return home.

This guide gives useful information and advice for unpaid carers. It covers what happens from when someone is admitted to hospital to when they leave and return home. You can use this information at different times for example:

  • before a hospital visit
  • during appointments
  • or during planned or emergency stays

Who are carers?

A carer is someone who gives unpaid help to a:

  • family member
  • partner
  • friend
  • neighbour

Carers can be:

  • adults caring for other adults
  • parents caring for disabled children
  • young carers under 18 caring for an adult or sibling

Carers may give physical help and emotional support. This can include helping people with mental health concerns or addictions.

You are still a carer if:

  • the person also gets support from services
  • they live in a care home
  • they live far away

No one should expect you to care for or continue to care for someone without talking to you first.

Telling people you are a carer

Tell hospital staff as soon as possible that you are a carer.

This helps them support you. Ask them to make a note of this on the patient’s notes. They can then involve you in decisions, especially when planning for discharge.

They may offer a Carers’ Prescription, which can include:

You can also register as a carer with your GP. This can give you more support and flexible appointments.

Carers’ Hospital Passport

A carers’ passport explains what help and support you can get while the person you care for is in hospital. If you want to keep helping them in hospital, the passport helps you agree with staff what you can do.

Ask the nurse in charge about getting one, or ask Action for Carers to request it for you.

Sharing information

Sharing information about the person you care for helps staff give better care. Especially if the person finds it hard to communicate.

Helpful tools include:

You can also ask to speak to specialist nurses, for example for:

  • learning disability
  • autism
  • dementia
  • end-of-life care

Decision making and consent

Hospitals can be busy, and you may feel pressure to take someone home. However, your thoughts and concerns are important. The person should not leave hospital until the right support is ready.

If the person gives consent, you can:

  • be involved in decisions
  • help plan their care after discharge

The health and social care team should work with you and listen to your views and worries. This helps make sure the right support is ready before the person you care for leaves hospital.

If the person does not give consent you can still tell staff what help you are able to give.

If the person cannot make decisions, you may have Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). This will allow you to make some decisions about their health and welfare. If not, staff must act in the person’s best interests according to the law, but you can still share your views.

Getting help and advice

Action for Carers Surrey

This charity offers support, advice and information for carers. We commission this service.

They have Hospital Carer Support Advisors in hospitals including:

  • East Surrey Hospital
  • Epsom General Hospital
  • Royal Surrey County Hospital
  • St Peter’s Hospital

They can help with:

  • talking with hospital staff including advocacy
  • giving advice
  • linking you to support services
  • explaining discharge
  • arranging community support
  • moving and handling training
  • carer break grants

Ask a nurse to refer you to a Hospital Carer Support Advisor or contact Action for Carers

GP Carers’ Break Payment

Your GP may offer a one-off payment (up to £300) if you need a break based on a health assessment.

You can use it for:

  • alternative care
  • items and services that improve your wellbeing

The payment depends on availability, so check with your GP. The payment is not linked to hospital stays.

Long-term support

If you need ongoing help, you can ask for a carer’s needs assessment. You can find out what you can get and what support you can have.

The following can refer you:

Carer’s needs assessment

You have the right to a carers' needs assessment. Don't let the word "assessment" put you off – it is not a test of your abilities as a carer.

The carers' needs assessment gives you the chance to talk to us about how taking care of someone affects you. This may impact you physically or emotionally, or in both ways.

It helps identify:

  • what support you need
  • whether you want to continue caring

We work with you to create a support plan, which may include practical help or help from local groups.

To find out more see What is a carer's assessment.

Living with long-term conditions

Long-term health problems can be challenging.

You may need help with:

  • physical care
  • money matters
  • emotional support
  • lifestyle changes

There are lots of services and charities that can help with practical and emotional help.

Ask your GP or support services for help or see long term conditions.

Online support

You can find a wide range of help online including:

  • health and wellbeing
  • technology for caring
  • money and benefits
  • work and skills
  • online communities

See Support for carers to find out more.

Connect to Support Surrey

This website lists local services and support groups for carers. This is a trusted online directory giving information and services to support you as a carer. It includes local support groups for carers.

See Connect to Support Surrey.

Space 2B You

An online mental health service for families. We fund this service.

The service focuses on the whole family. It helps carers:

  • feel better
  • understand mental health
  • how people learn new skills

It offers:

  • one-to-one or group sessions. These improve carers:
    • wellbeing
    • knowledge
    • skills
  • personalised support
  • mental health education and skills training
  • support for families
  • links to other services

You can use it even if the person you care for does not.

See Space 2B You.

Mobilise

A carer led online community. Any carer can access support via the online hub. You can download the app for free on Apple Store or get it on Google Play.

The digital support includes:

  • advice from other carers
  • community forum for sharing experiences
  • regular online events, for example “virtual cuppa”
  • easy to use self service tools including:
    • tools to check, access and navigate benefits eligibility criteria
    • what forms of support you may be able to get
  • guides on caring and wellbeing. For example:
    • how to balance caring with full time work
    • managing personal health and wellbeing whilst looking after someone else
    • information on carers’ rights
    • information on relevant social care law

See Mobilise Surrey.

Support from the NHS

Find out about support from NHS organisations. Visit:

Benefits advice

You may be able to claim benefits such as:

  • Carer’s Allowance
  • Carers’ Credit
  • Universal Credit
  • Pension Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • help with Council Tax

If you or the person you care for go into hospital, you must tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This is because some payments may stop after you have been in hospital for a certain amount of time.

Remember to inform them when you leave hospital so you can get the benefits again.

For advice:

Attendance Allowance is not for carers it is for the person being cared for. The person receiving care can use it to pay for replacement care if they want.

Attendance Allowance might also help carers qualify:

  • for benefits like Carers' Allowance
  • get extra help with Council Tax for both the carer and the person receiving care

You can get advice and help to access extra income from:

Equipment and technology

If you or someone you look after is struggling with everyday tasks then:

  • simple equipment
  • new technology
  • small changes to your home

can make the difference between living independently and needing someone to help you.

Simple equipment or home changes can make daily life easier, such as. Look at the home equipment finder for items including:

Major adaptations

Adaptations can help people who are:

  • older
  • have a disability

to stay in their home for longer.

Major adaptation can include things like:

  • converting conventional bathrooms into wet rooms
  • installing a “through the floor” lift

See Major adaptations for a full step-by-step guide to help you understand the process.

Your rights as a carer

Knowing your rights helps you:

  • speak up
  • get support
  • taking a break
  • have conversations that can help in your caring role

There are several important pieces of legislation it is helpful to understand as a carer. These include:

  • Care Act 2014
  • Children and Families Act 2015
  • Health and Care Act 2022

Summary of carers rights

Carers have the following rights. These are set out in law. You are protected by laws such as the Care Act and the Equality Act.

  • you can decide if you are willing and able to care
  • coercion or manipulation to care is illegal
  • you have the right to be protected from how caring affects you
  • you must have a say as soon as possible when hospitals are planning the discharge for the person you care for. This includes care after leaving hospital
  • you must have a say as early as possible when the hospital is planning for the person you care for to leave. This includes their care after they go home
  • you can get support to identify which of the person's needs you can help with
  • social care teams should take your views into account when they arrange care
  • you can ask for a Carer’s Assessment to find out what help you need and how caring affects you
  • you can request flexible working
  • you can ask your employer for up to 5 days of unpaid carer's leave each year, adjusted based on your working hours
  • you have the right to work, study, train and enjoy leisure activities
  • you have rights under civil rights and human rights laws
  • you have extra rights under the Equality Act 2010

To find out more:

Key things to consider

  • each hospital has its own policy for discharge. This is based on government advice. For a copy of the hospital's discharge information ask:
  • contact details for the teams or individuals
  • check transport arrangements. The ward will tell you:
    • when the person is being discharged
    • if they will go to a discharge lounge
    • if you are not picking the person up you will be:
    • informed when they have left the ward or lounge
    • that they are on their way home
  • discharge planning starts when the person is admitted
  • tell staff early if you are a carer or thinking about becoming a carer
  • health professionals will plan for when it’s time to leave. If the person you care for agrees, someone will talk to you about the plans
  • be aware of any equipment needed at home. Make sure these are in place before going home
  • make sure you are shown how to use any equipment safely
  • be clear on care arrangements after discharge including:
    • understand who will provide the care
    • when it will start
    • when it will end
  • are there any discharges to rehabilitation places
  • know how any care will be paid for and for how long
  • ask for clear medication information including:
    • what they should be taking now
    • when to take it
    • what medications have stopped
  • get details of follow-up appointments including what each appointment is for

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) offer:

  • confidential advice
  • support
  • information

on health related matters for:

  • patients
  • their families
  • their carers

They can:

  • help answer questions
  • help resolve concerns or problems
  • help you understand and get involved in your own healthcare

To find your nearest PALS ask:

  • your hospital
  • your GP surgery
  • NHS 111

You can:

Services from Luminus

Healthwatch Surrey

They collect feedback to help:

  • shape
  • improve
  • get the best

from the NHS.

They are independent and can make sure decision makers listen to you.

Their helpdesk can give you clear and trusted information and guide you to local health and care services so you can get support.

Contact Healthwatch Surrey.

Giving Carers a Voice

We commission Luminus to run the independent Giving Carers a Voice service.

This service listens to carers of all ages. They make sure their opinions taken into account when designing and delivering the services they use.

Contact Luminus for more information.

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