Support in my own home

 
 

Leaving Hospital/Hospital Discharges

What is involved?
We have arrangements and policies in place to work with our main local acute hospitals – St Mary's, Chelsea and Westminster and St Thomas. This is to make sure that your discharge from hospital goes as smoothly as possible. If you are less able as a result of your stay in hospital we can provide assistance to enable you to manage at home.

If you are eligible, we can provide home care services to help with personal care or domestic tasks. Our services are dependent on an assessment of need and are aimed at those who have become less independent since their hospital admission. There is also a specialist team that provides rehabilitation and assessment services for short periods of time. This is usually when someone has returned home from hospital with different daily needs because of their illness.

If you need care when you go home, this should be discussed with you. This might include visits from a district nurse or practical help in your home. It should be made clear to you what help has been arranged and you should be given the written information when you leave hospital.

There is also a residential intermediate care unit for people who need some more intensive rehabilitation before they are able to return home from hospital. There are eligibility criteria for this.

More information on rehabilitation services


How do I get an assessment?
In Westminster, Care Management teams carry out assessments of need. Any support or services arranged will be based on this and will be arranged by these teams.

If you think you will need help on leaving hospital, you should contact the Care Management team involved, or ask the ward staff or a family member or friend to do this on your behalf. If you are in St Mary’s hospital there is a Care Management team based in the hospital.

More information on assessing your needs


Is there a charge?
You will not be charged for an assessment of your needs. However, if as a result of the assessment, services are recommended for you, for example home care, you may be assessed to pay for these.

Payment for Care


Who do I contact?
You should contact the office that covers the area you live in. If you are in St Mary’s Hospital, you should contact the care management team based in the Hospital.

For further information please click on the link below to view our leaflet: