Support after leaving hospital

The local trusts work together to meet your needs if you have continuing health and social care needs when you leave hospital.

Assessments

Following the assessment there are a number of possible care options including:

• support at home with a care package of health and social care
• sheltered housing
• a residential care or nursing home
• admission for Health Service continuing (long-term) care
• care in a rehabilitation centre

If you have a carer and need extra help when you return home, with your permission, they can be given information about your care needs.

• Supported housing and care homes
• Information for carers (caring for someone section)

Health Service continuing (long-term) care

Continuing care can include both health and social care. Fully-funded Health Service 'continuing care' is a package of care arranged and funded solely by the Health Service. To access this care you must meet the eligibility criteria set by your Trust. If staff think you are eligible they will apply on your behalf.

'Continuing health and social care' is a package of care that involves services from both the Health Service and social care.

If you meet your strategic health authority's criteria for Health Service continuing care, the Health Service will pay for all of your care needs. This might be in a care home or sometimes in your own home.

When your local trust assesses you for discharge from hospital, your discharge team should arrange for assessments to identify your needs and make appropriate referrals for you.

• More about health and social care assessments

Rehabilitation

There are a number of day centres throughout Northern Ireland which have the facilities to help rehabilitate people with impairments as a result of injury or illness.

Types of support include:

• physiotherapy
• speech therapy
• occupational therapy

Referral to a day centre can come from your hospital consultant or your local doctor (GP).

• Who's who in health services
• Find your local GP or hospital