Arranging Care at Home After a Hospital Discharge in London

How hospital discharge works

NHS hospitals aim to discharge people as soon as they no longer need hospital-level care, and many London hospitals follow a 'discharge to assess' approach, where longer-term needs are assessed once the person is home. The ward's discharge team, nurses, therapists and social workers will usually be involved in planning what support is needed.

If your relative needs short-term help to regain independence, they may be offered reablement or intermediate care. In England, these services are usually provided free of charge for up to six weeks.

Questions to ask before discharge day

• What date and time is discharge planned, and how will they get home?
• What has changed with medication, and who will supply it?
• Will there be any equipment - a frame, commode, hospital bed or rails - and when will it arrive?
• Will reablement, district nurses or therapists visit, and how often?
• What warning signs should we look out for, and who do we call?
• When are follow-up appointments, and will there be a discharge letter for the GP?

When short visits aren't enough

Reablement visits are valuable, but they're typically short and spread across the day. Someone who is unsteady on their feet, confused after an anaesthetic, or needing help at night may need more than that, at least for the first weeks. That's when families often arrange convalescence or live-in care alongside the NHS support.

A live-in carer can help with washing and dressing, safe mobility, meals and fluids, medication prompts and the exercises set by physiotherapists - and is there overnight. As recovery progresses, care can be reduced or stopped.

Arranging live-in care for discharge

• Call us as soon as discharge is being discussed: 020 8044 8333 (9am-10pm, 7 days a week).
• We'll carry out a free assessment, which can often happen while your relative is still in hospital.
• We'll introduce a suitable carer and agree a start date that matches the discharge date.
• Your carer follows the hospital's advice and works alongside district nurses and therapists.