Hospitalisation - help returning home

Services provided by the hospital

Each hospital has a discharge planning team where patients' needs are discussed. Your wishes will be taken into account when any health and social care needs are discussed. Each hospital will also have patient advice liaison service (PALS) officers, who can provide you with advice and support. They can also help you sort out any concerns you may have about the care you receive whilst in hospital.

Support from social care services

People who need support upon discharge from hospital will be offered input from our START (short term assessment and reablement team) service. This is a short-term service provided for up to six weeks. It aims to enable people to be as independent as possible, providing assistive technology such as telecare where appropriate, and working with people to minimise their need for ongoing support.

If you think you may need help when you leave hospital you can ask to see someone from social care services. We will talk to you about your concerns, how you will manage at home and what help might be available, including general advice on benefits or housing issues. We can also see what support needs to be in place before you return home. Looking at your needs in this way is called a needs assessment. You can find more information on the needs assessment by social services page.

We also offer a rehabilitation service that can help you rebuild your skills and confidence in doing everyday activities. For example, they can teach you new skills to:

• help you manage at home;
• keep you out of hospital; or
• keep you out of permanent residential care or nursing care, unless this really is the right choice for you

Please contact the customer services centre to discuss things further. They can also give you information about other community schemes in North Yorkshire that help people when they leave hospital.

People that care for you

You may receive, or intend to receive help from a family member or neighbour. If they provide regular or substantial care then they are also entitled to an assessment and may be eligible for support to enable them to help care for you. For more information, including guidance on how to ask for an assessment, please see the carer assessment page.

Support for disabled people

If you are disabled, you can find more information about maintaining your independence and receiving support at home from our disabled people - independence at home page.

	Charges for social care services You will have to pay for some social care services you receive but others may be free or at a reduced cost, depending on your financial circumstances. The amount you pay for social care services is determined through a financial assessment.

	Related information from NHS Choices NHS hospital services - an overview An overview of NHS hospital services including choosing a hospital; finding a hospital; waiting times; complaining about hospital services; and getting involved. For more information, see the NHS hospital services - overviewpage. NHS hospital services - leaving hospital Each hospital will have its own policy and arrangements for discharging patients. Normally, when you arrive in hospital, the professionals in charge of your care will develop a plan for your treatment, including your discharge or transfer. For more information, see the NHS Choices Leaving hospitalpage. [Content supplied by NHS Choices]