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Hospital Stay
Leaving hospital
Devon Social Services - our role
Social Services have teams of staff based in the three main hospitals:
Each team is organised slightly differently but they are there, along with the hospital staff, to make sure that your discharge home is safe.
Sometimes near being ready for discharge, you may be moved to a smaller community hospital nearer your home. Whether you are discharged from the district general hospital or a community hospital, if you think you may need help, you are entitled to an assessment from Social Services and can either refer yourself or ask ward staff to do so.
Social Services staff follow national guidelines and will come to see you in hospital to carry out an assessment of your needs.
They will then be able to tell you if you are entitled to help to meet those needs. If you are not, the staff will be able to advise and signpost you to where you can arrange help for yourself.
If you have a carer that person is also entitled to an assessment and may be eligible for support to enable them to help care for you.
If you are entitled to help (such as help with personal care, meals, day care etc) a charge may be made for the services, depending on your income (see How much will I have to pay?). This will be assessed in your home soon after you return from hospital. The advisor who visits will also check you are receiving all the benefits to which you are entitled.
If you return home without seeing someone from Social Services and then feel your needs have increased, you can telephone your local Social Services office during office hours. Explain what you think your needs are and how we may help and you will be advised accordingly.
Your Benefits
When you come out of hospital you should notify both the Department for Work and Pensions and the district council office that deals with your claims for Housing and Council tax Benefit.
This is important as you will need to have your benefit reassessed when you return home. You may also be entitled to other benefits if you have become disabled as a result of your illness.
To find out if the benefit you are claiming is affected by a stay in hospital or if there are any benefits that you may be entitled to please contact us through our comments/enquiries form.
If you are 65 or older you can receive advice from the free information service Care Direct Devon on freephone 0845 1551 007.
See also
- RD&E (Wonford) Hospital Discharge Service
- Delayed Discharges (mainly of interest to professionals)
- Assessing eligibility for continuing NHS Health Care (104KB - pdf help)
Contact Us
- Contact Social Services Online
(NaNMB - pdf help)or - call your local Social Services office