This is not medical advice. Big on Health is a UK review site. For health worries, speak to your GP, pharmacist, or NHS 111. For questions about a discharge, speak to the ward or hospital discharge team.

Coming home after a hospital stay is a common moment when families first look at care at home. This page sets out what to ask before and after discharge, in plain English. It is not a care agency, and it does not assess anyone. Arrangements differ between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, so check with the hospital team and your council what applies where you live.

Before the person leaves hospital

• Ask the ward who is in charge of the discharge plan, and ask to see it.
• Ask whether any short-term support at home is being arranged, who will provide it, and for how long.
• Ask whether equipment or adaptations are needed at home, and who will supply them.
• Ask which medicines are changing, and who to call if there is a problem after discharge.
• If you are the unpaid carer, say so, and ask about a carer’s assessment.

In the first weeks at home

• Write down the hours and tasks where help is needed, day and night.
• Note what the family can cover realistically, and where the gaps are.
• If short-term support is ending, ask the council about a needs assessment before it stops.
• Keep a short list of contacts: GP practice, pharmacy, any community team, and the council.

If you decide to pay for extra help

Some families add private help on top of what is arranged, for example a few visits a week, overnight support, or a short live-in stay while someone recovers. Get any rate in writing, and agree tasks, hours, and what happens if the carer is ill.

For money questions, see Paying for private care at home in the UK. For an interview list, see Questions to ask before you hire a private carer. For specific situations, see Overnight care at home in the UK, Live-in care in the UK, and Respite care in the UK.

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