Help when going into hospital

As a carer, hospital visits either for yourself or the person you care for can be worrying.

If you have to go into hospital

Admission to the hospital will usually either be planned or as an emergency.

If you know you are going to be admitted and there is no one else who can take over the care and support of the person you care for, contact the Council’s duty desk on 01454 868007.  They will discuss options open to you and can set up alternative care arrangements. 

If you are admitted as an emergency, tell someone in the hospital and they will contact the local Council on your behalf. If you have a Carers Emergency card, this will inform ambulance or hospital staff that you are a carer. They can then alert the 24-hour Emergency Call Centre.

If the person you care for goes into hospital

You or the person you care for should inform hospital staff that you are their carer. If the person you care for consents, you should be included in any meetings and planning about their care and discharge. Make staff aware if you have Power of Attorney.

The Carers Support Centre have a team of Hospital Carer Liaison Workers based in the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) and Southmead Hospital. They can help you access advice, information, or emotional support at any time during a hospital admission or discharge. They understand that these processes can be confusing and can help to access information and advocate for your needs. For more information and for the liaison workers contact details, see these pages Help for carers in hospitals.

Southmead Hospital – Carers Support Scheme

There are a number of ways that Southmead provides support to carers, for instance, if you spend more than three hours, several times a week supporting a patient on the wards you may be entitled to free parking and you may be able to access the staff canteen.

Find out more about Southmead Hospital’s Carers Support Scheme

BRI – Carers Information Scheme

Services for carers providing support on the wards to patients include discounted parking and a carers sticker to identify you. 

Find out more about the BRI’s Carers Information Scheme

For more information on both these schemes ask on the ward or speak to the Hospital Carers Liaison Worker.

The Carers Support Centre have worked with carers to develop a helpful checklist of things to consider when you are faced with a hospital admission. Take a look at this Hospital Admission Checklist as soon as you can so that you are prepared.