If you are going into hospital you may need help and advice about things to consider before you go in, and when you come out. We can look into what help you need and decide with you what services can be provided. This is called an assessment of your needs.
Often your benefits, such as housing and council tax benefit, will have to be reassessed to take account of your new circumstances. If you were not claiming any benefits before you went into hospital you may now be able to claim. There is a separate page called Staying in hospital - bills and benefits where you can find further advice about this.
If you have cats or dogs you may need to contact a local kennel or cattery to look after them while you are in hospital.
You can either contact us before you go into hospital (see the contact details at the top of this page) or you can ask to see a social worker when you are you in hospital. The nurse looking after you will arrange this if you ask.
If you were getting help before you went into hospital the nurse looking after you will arrange for this to be started again when you go home. If you were not receiving help or need more help than before, the nurse will contact the Social Work Department at the hospital to arrange for an assessment. You may be able to get quite intensive support at home for a limited period - this could include providing special equipment for you - such as hand rails to help you to climb the stairs.
You could get help such as
- Meals at home - community meals service
- Home care - or community support services
- Day care
- Support for family members who are caring for you.
There are links to information about all of these services on this page.
When you leave hospital, you may need to go into a residential or nursing home. This could be temporary to give you time to recover more fully, or to get services started for you at home, or it might be permanent. We can help arrange this, or give you advice if you and your family are able to make your own arrangements.