REGAINING YOUR INDEPENDENCE A helpful guide to support convalescence after a stay in hospital
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This guide has been produced to provide useful information and advice on continuing care after a stay in hospital, whether short or long-term. Assisted care available via the hospital and also the local community care options available. This guide also features useful contact details for all the care options and advice given.
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What is Continuing Care?
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Who decides about NHS Continuing Healthcare?
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Ongoing Support for Mental Health Issues and Learning Disabilities
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Coping at Home
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Private Healthcare and Hospitals
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Helping you Manage your Financial Affairs
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What is Palliative Care?
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Live-in Care
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Useful Contacts / Organisations 3
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Bereavement Injury Advice Making a Will and Funeral Planning Older Persons Community Care Mobility Advice Private Healthcare Regaining Your Independence Relationship Breakdown Sight & Hearing Work Related Injuries & Disease / Employment Issues Pregnancy & Parenthood Regional GP Appointment Cards GP Antenatal Appointment Cards
The Care Act 2014 came into force in England in April 2015. It set out how care and support in England should be provided to adults with care needs. You can find an outline of topics in this guide with sections pointing you in the direction of further help on specific topics. You can find an easy-to-read guide to the act here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov. uk/media/5a7dc00a40f0b65d88634 2e3/Making_Sure_the_Care_Act_ Works_EASY_READ.pdf
WHAT IS NHS CONTINUING CARE? NHS Continuing Healthcare is a package of care arranged and funded entirely by the NHS for adults aged 18 or over who are assessed as having a primary health need. Eligibility depends on the nature, complexity, intensity and unpredictability of the person’s assessed needs, rather than simply their diagnosis, age or level of disability. NHS Continuing Healthcare enables people to receive the support they need to maintain or improve their quality of life. Unlike short-term rehabilitation services (such as intermediate care), CHC is provided when ongoing, substantial health and care needs are identified. 4
NHS Continuing Healthcare is provided free of charge for people aged 18 or over who are assessed as being eligible. It can be arranged in a variety of settings, including your own home, a hospital, hospice or care home. If someone in a care home gets NHS Continuing Healthcare, it will cover their care home fees, including the cost of accommodation, personal care and healthcare costs. If NHS Continuing Healthcare is provided in the home of the person you look after, it will cover personal care and healthcare costs. It may also include support for you as a carer. Continuing Healthcare may be offered for prolonged periods but not necessarily for life, so a patient’s entitlement will be reviewed at regular intervals. Children and young people under 18 may be eligible for a similar type of provision, called Children and Young People’s Continuing Care. This is organised differently, under its own national framework. See the Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework at www.gov.uk The National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHSfunded Nursing Care sets out the national principles, processes and tools used to assess eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care in England. The revised National Framework was published in July 2022 and subsequently corrected in 2023. It provides a standardised approach to assessment and decision-making across England.
Where a person is not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare but is assessed as requiring nursing care in a nursing home, they may instead be eligible for NHS-funded Nursing Care (FNC). FNC is different from NHS Continuing Healthcare: it is an NHS contribution towards the cost of nursing care provided by a registered nurse in a nursing home, rather than full NHS funding of the person’s care package. The NHS-funded Nursing Care contribution is set nationally. The standard rate applicable from 1 April 2026 is £267.68 per week, paid by the NHS directly to the nursing home.
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Did you know….. At the end of December 2025, 50,753 adults in England were eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC). Of these, 16,636 were eligible through the Fast Track pathway, which is designed for people who have a rapidly deteriorating condition and may be entering a terminal phase of illness.
Who is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare? You must be aged 18 or over. Eligibility is based on an assessment of your health and care needs and whether you have a ‘primary health need’. You do not need to have a particular diagnosis or condition to qualify. NHS Continuing Healthcare is usually for people with long-term illnesses, disabilities, or complex conditions that are unlikely to improve quickly. It is not normally provided for shortterm or temporary needs, such as recovery from a routine operation. NHS Continuing Healthcare is free of charge to people who are assessed as eligible. The NHS covers the cost of the care package in full, whether provided in your own home, a care home, hospice, or other setting. People may still choose to pay for additional non-essential services (such as higher accommodation standards), but the care itself is NHS-funded. In England, local authorities can charge for other types of communitybased social care services (such as home help or respite care) if they are not covered by NHS Continuing Healthcare. You can read more about NHS Continuing Healthcare on the NHS website (www.nhs.uk).
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The national assessment process includes the NHS Continuing Healthcare Checklist, the Decision Support Tool (DST) and, where appropriate, the Fast Track Pathway Tool. These tools help determine whether a person’s assessed needs demonstrate a primary health need and whether they should be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare.
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WHO DECIDES ABOUT NHS CONTINUING HEALTHCARE? A multidisciplinary team (MDT) of health and social care professionals will assess your needs and complete the Decision Support Tool. The MDT will make a recommendation about eligibility, and the Integrated Care Board (ICB) makes the eligibility decision. Among these may be your GP, nursing staff, physiotherapists and social care professionals. This team will discuss with you and your family how the eligibility decision was reached as well as how, when and where the NHS Continuing Healthcare is to be provided. Your hospital will explain the procedure for discharge and for ongoing healthcare thereafter. If you need both health and social care, a joint package of care may be arranged, with responsibilities shared between the NHS and the local authority. Staff should explain which aspects of your care will be NHS-funded and which may be subject to means-tested social care charges. The overall assessment and eligibility decision-making process should, in most cases, take no more than 28 calendar days from the date the ICB receives the positive Checklist or other notification of potential eligibility. 6
Patients have the right to ask for a review of any Continuing Healthcare decision. If you have concerns about your hospital care or discharge, you can ask the hospital’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) for advice.
While you are in Hospital
The prospect of a stay in hospital can be daunting if you are not used to it. To help allay any fears that you may have, it is wise to make sure that you understand your illness. They say knowledge is power and, in these terms, a better understanding of your condition will help you feel more in control and less anxious. When in doubt, ask questions and you will find that your consultant, doctor or nurse will take the trouble to explain the reasons for their diagnosis. Likewise, be sure you understand why you are receiving certain medication or what undergoing a particular treatment will entail.
Discharge from Hospital
Where it has been assessed that you do not require NHS Continuing Healthcare, you do not have the right to occupy an NHS hospital bed indefinitely. You should be involved in decisions about your discharge and where you will receive care.
If you do have concerns about being discharged from hospital and your right to Continuing Healthcare, you may wish to seek support and advice from the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) – ask a member of staff in the hospital for details of the local PALS office; there should be one in the hospital itself.
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Did you know….. Almost half of adults in England with a common mental health condition are receiving treatment, such as talking therapies, medication or both.
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Discharge to a Care Home Where you have been assessed as needing care in a care home – either arranged by your local authority or privately – you can choose the home you wish to go to, subject to it being suitable and affordable with the funding arrangements. In England all care homes are registered and regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Different care standards authorities apply in Wales and Scotland.
ONGOING SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND LEARNING DISABILITIES In England, approximately 1.3 million people are defined as having learning disabilities including 950,000 adults aged 18 and over. As many as one in four of us are likely to experience mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety each year and a further one in every 100 experience severe mental illness, which may include a temporary period where they lose touch with reality. Under the framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare, your mental, emotional and psychological needs will be assessed alongside the assessment of your physical or nursing care needs before you are discharged from hospital. If you do have learning disabilities or mental health needs, a care plan should be drawn up and overseen by a care co-ordinator who will help you access support from within your local community and various services. There are a number of agencies throughout the UK that specialise in providing home help for people with primary health needs related to mental health or learning disability. You should ask your local authority what is available in your area. As ever, the Internet is an excellent source of information.
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If there are concerns about your ability to make decisions about your care or accommodation, the relevant legal safeguards, including the Mental Capacity Act, should be followed.
COPING AT HOME On your return home, you may need some assistance from friends, relatives, or carers to settle in. If you are unable to ask for help directly, hospital staff may speak with your family or carers on your behalf. Social services may also contact a neighbour or support network to help prepare your home for your return. If there is no-one available to help, the hospital or local social services may be able to arrange support from a volunteer organisation such as the Red Cross or Royal Voluntary Service, depending on local availability. Volunteers may help with tasks such as basic home preparation, but this cannot always be guaranteed. You may find that you need aids to help you move around your home, such as a raised toilet seat, grab handles, wheelchair, walking frame, or sticks. Some home adaptations may also be recommended. Your Continuing Healthcare or multidisciplinary team can help assess your needs and arrange equipment or support through the NHS or local authority.
The District Nurse Where necessary, the hospital discharge team, GP, or charge nurse may arrange for a district nurse to visit you at home. District nurses provide ongoing nursing care, which may include changing dressings, administering injections, monitoring your health, managing chronic conditions, supporting end-of-life care, and educating you or your carers. They work closely with other healthcare professionals to ensure you receive the care you need at home.
Community Alarms and Telecare Services If you are worried about having an accident or falling ill while you are in your own home alone, community alarms provide emergency access that is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Community alarms may connect through a home telephone, broadband or mobile/digital connection, depending on the system and can be activated via a pendant worn around the neck or a wristband. They provide reassurance to your family and friends that help, if needed, is only a touch of a button away.
There may also be items you wish to purchase personally to make life easier or more comfortable.
Telecare systems are a range of simple sensors that either raise an alarm or act as a reminder to help to keep you safe and independent in your own home. They include items such as: door sensors, movement sensors, medication reminders and smoke, gas or flood detectors.
You can find more information about mobility aids in our separate ‘Mobility Guide’.
The housing department of your local council, Age UK and private companies provide this valuable service.
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Your Continuing Healthcare (CHC) team, the hospital discharge team, or local social services can arrange where necessary to have a home carer visit you on a regular basis to help with personal things like washing or dressing, as well as preparing meals, shopping and cleaning. Alternatively, this can be arranged privately yourself or by family or friends. The amount and frequency of home care will depend on the person’s assessed needs and the care arrangements agreed with the relevant provider or authority. There are numerous home care providers out there and so it’s important to find one that suits you. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates registered home care services in England and publishes inspection and assessment information on its website. Where a service has a rating, this can also be viewed. This can be a good place to check which provider has the same values as you do when selecting a provider. Most home care providers will carry out an assessment of your needs and be able to discuss with you and offer suggestions for the type of care package you require to support you at home.
Meals on Wheels Many Meals on Wheels services have now been disbanded or contracted out to private companies due to funding cuts. There may be a number of companies locally that offer either a hot meal delivery service or frozen meals. Details will be available by searching online or through your local authority.
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Did you know….. According to the 2021 Census, it shows that 4.7% of the population in England and Wales are providing 20 hours or more of care a week.
Care and Repair Agencies
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Care and Repair Agencies work to help you to remain in your own home and to live as independently as possible. They do this by providing information about choices that can improve your safety, security, comfort and convenience. Care and Repair agencies can help you access funding and expertise to adapt, repair or improve your home. This might mean jobs as small as adding handrails or larger projects, such as creating a specially adapted bathroom. You can search for Care and Repair agencies online or your local authority should also be able to give you more information about what is available in your region.
Trusted Traders Some local authorities operate trader approval or ‘Trusted Trader’ schemes. This means that they stringently vet traders such as builders, gardeners, electricians and plumbers, to ensure that they offer their customers the highest standards of service. For a company to become a ‘Trusted Trader’ takes a lot but helps to give customers the peace of mind that they can expect a good job for a fair price, without fearing rogue traders or doorstep crime. Check with your local council to see whether one is available in your area. 9
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Home Care
Extra Care Housing / Sheltered Housing Extra Care Housing and Sheltered Housing are related but distinct forms of accommodation. Both allow you to live independently in your own self-contained home with the benefit of domiciliary care support services providing planned care on-site, plus 24-hour emergency response. Properties are usually available to rent, buy outright or via a shared ownership scheme in flats, bungalow estates and retirement villages. Properties in most ECH or Sheltered Housing scheme include features such as raised electric sockets, lowered worktops, walk-in showers, etc. and will usually have been designed to accommodate wheelchair users. Generally, the scheme manager or coordinator will live on-site or nearby to help arrange services that residents might need. These schemes often provide shared or communal facilities, such as a lounger, garden, laundry or guest flat for family members to visit and stay.
Other Assistance There are various schemes and organisations that provide help after a stay in hospital. Contact details can be obtained from your local social services department, community health centre or hospital social worker. There are also a number of helpful contacts listed towards the back of this Guide. Important note: Should you be concerned about how you will cope at home because of difficult stairs, 10
inadequate heating, or the fact that your home is not designed to accommodate a wheelchair or walking frame, you should speak to your hospital discharge team or nurse without delay. They will ensure that your concerns are communicated to the relevant professionals, such as occupational therapists or social services, so that support can be arranged to help you manage safely at home.
Pharmacy Services Many local pharmacies in the UK now offer services designed to make your life easier. In addition to collecting your repeat prescription for your GP on your behalf, they may also be able to deliver your medication to your home. They can give treatment advice about a range of common ailments such as aches, pains, sore throats, teething and much more. Ask your local pharmacy for more information about the services they offer.
Outpatients Appointments or GP Follow-up Once you have been discharged from hospital, your hospital consultant or doctor may need to see you to gauge your recovery progress. If this is the case, you will be given an Outpatients’ Clinic appointment card. Should you require transport for these visits, an ambulance can be arranged on your behalf. Alternatively, you may need to visit your GP for follow-up treatment.
In England, private ambulance services provide non-emergency patient transport to and from medical appointments, clinics, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. When choosing a provider, check whether the service needs to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and, where applicable, check the CQC register to confirm its registration. You should also check that the provider has appropriate insurance, suitably trained staff and vehicles that meet your individual needs, such as wheelchair or stretcher access.
The Motability Scheme Motability is a national charity that enables disabled people to obtain a car, powered wheelchair or scooter simply by using their government-funded mobility allowances. The great thing about the scheme is that it gives you access to worry-free motoring without the financial and practical hassles of owning a car. The Motability Scheme enables eligible disabled people to exchange a qualifying mobility allowance for a lease vehicle, powered wheelchair or scooter. To be eligible for the Motability Scheme, you must be receiving the Higher Rate Mobility Part of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or the Enhanced Rate Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment. Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) or War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS) with at least 12 months’ award left when you apply. This is subject to change, please check www.gov.uk. Motability produces a number of helpful factsheets which can be downloaded from the website (www.motability.co.uk).
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Private Ambulance Companies
“An easy read guide to getting a Motability Scheme Car” provides a good overview of the scheme.” We also cover the Mobility Scheme in more detail in our Mobility Advice Guide.
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PRIVATE HEALTHCARE HOSPITALS If you do require ongoing care or follow-up treatment, you may decide that, rather than being treated on the NHS, you would like to be seen at a private hospital or healthcare facility. Operations and procedures commonly carried out privately include fixed price hip and knee surgery, removal of cataracts and treatment of glaucoma, among others. In some circumstances, private treatment may provide access to treatments, medicines or services that are not routinely available through the NHS. Private healthcare is usually paid for out-of-pocket or through private insurance. You can find out more about private healthcare in the UK at www.phin.org.uk 12
Cancer 1 in 2 people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. There are more than 200 different types of cancer. The most common cancers in the UK are: Breast Cancer • Lung Cancer Prostate Cancer • Bowel Cancer Treatment for cancer depends on the type and stage of the cancer. Depending on the circumstances, treatment may include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies or other treatments. Be aware of changes to your body, such as lumps appearing, unexplained bleeding or changes to your bowel habits. Making lifestyle changes could reduce the risk of developing cancer, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and not smoking. If you have any concerns, make an appointment to see your GP so they can investigate. Finding cancer early means it can be easier to treat.
If you wish, you can appoint an Attorney or Attorneys (who may be a relative, friend or professional person) to help you manage your financial affairs. In England, this is done through a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for Property and Financial Affairs, which can continue to operate even if you lose mental capacity. To make an LPA, it must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). If you wish to do this, you should seek legal advice from a solicitor who specialises in Powers of Attorney or elderly client affairs especially if your financial or personal circumstances are complex.
Choosing a Solicitor If you have an ongoing medical condition or as you grow older it may be a good idea to discuss issues such as making a will, planning your funeral, appointing a Power of Attorney, or paying for a place in a care home with a solicitor. This will help you to be aware of all your options, and to do what you can to safeguard your future and that of your loved ones. The Solicitors’ Regulation Authority is a good starting point for finding a reputable and experienced solicitor – see Useful Contacts/Organisations section for details.
Funeral Plans No one wants to think about how and when they will die, or what it will be like for our families without us. Although planning your funeral in advance may not be something you want to think about, there are many practical and emotional reasons why it should be a priority. Funerals are expensive occasions and require many decisions to ensure they run smoothly. Planning your funeral long in advance of it happening can give your friends and family peace of mind at a heartbreaking time. Taking out a prepaid funeral plan enables you to let your friends and family know what you want for your funeral. It also means that the costs are covered in advance, thereby saving your family from potential financial difficulty at an already stressful time. Since July 2022, the Financial Conduct Authority has been regulating firms that provide and arrange prepaid funeral plans. This means that your money is safe with an authorised provider, you are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme should your plan provider fail and if you have a complaint against a funeral plan provider or intermediary you can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
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HELPING MANAGE YOUR FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
WHAT IS PALLIATIVE CARE? In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Hospice UK (formerly the NCPC) acts as an umbrella organisation for all those who are involved in providing, commissioning and using palliative care and hospice services. The Council’s definition of palliative care as a part of supportive care is as follows: ‘Palliative care is the active holistic care of patients with advanced progressive illness. Management of pain and other symptoms and provision of psychological, social and spiritual support is paramount. The goal of palliative care is achievement of the best quality of life for patients and their families. Many aspects of palliative care are also applicable earlier in the course of the illness in conjunction with other treatments.’ Supportive care is designed to help patients and their families to deal with their condition from pre-diagnosis through to cure or chronic illness and finally death and bereavement. While palliative care historically focused on cancer, it now covers a wide range of life-limiting illnesses. Palliative care is typically available in care settings, such as a hospital, or in the community - in a hospice, care home or the patient’s own home, for example. 14
In Hospital Specialist medical staff in hospital are responsible for drawing up support plans for each patient needing palliative care. Staff may include physiotherapists, dietitians, social workers, doctors and nursing specialists. Their input may be the beginning of a plan, which extends into the community if it’s decided the patient can go home.
In the Community Specialist services are available to people living in care homes, in their own homes or in hospices. For example, a patient may begin their care in hospital, go home and receive support at home (including day visits to a hospice or day centre) then become a resident in a care home or hospice. Respite care is also available in hospices to provide a breathing space for carers.
What services can you ask for? Palliative services available include: • • • • • • • • •
Medical and nursing care Pain and symptom control Physiotherapy Complementary therapies Spiritual and emotional support Practical and financial advice Bereavement care for families and friends Equipment to help mobility Incontinence aids
Whether you are the patient or the carer make sure that you tell the medical and social services staff what you need.
Financial Support for People with Chronic and Terminal Illnesses As mentioned in the section on ‘Who is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare?’, funding arrangements are complicated and, although NHS Continuing Healthcare is provided free of charge, to eligible adults, other types of care—such as social care or community support—may be funded by different organisations, such as local authorities or private providers. This can make it confusing for families and carers trying to secure the care their loved one needs. The Independent Age website is a source of unbiased information and offers a range of free leaflets you can download from their website, including ‘Continuing Healthcare – Should the NHS be paying for your care?
Health and Social Care Act 2012 The Health and Social Care Act became law and came into effect on 1st April 2013. It introduced significant reforms to the NHS, including changes to commissioning, public health responsibilities, and regulation of services. Factsheets about the provisions of the act can be found on the Gov.uk website at www.gov.uk/ government/publications/healthand-social-care-act-2012-fact-sheets
Health and Care Act 2022 The Health and Care Act 2022 aims to make it easier for health and care organisations to deliver joined-up care for people who rely on multiple services, improving health and wellbeing. It strengthens Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), clarifies accountability, and encourages partnership working across the NHS, local authorities, and voluntary organisations. An easy to read guide can be found at www.england.nhs.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2022/07/Easyread-Working-with-People-andCommunities.pdf
LIVE IN CARE If your family or friends are not able to provide support on a daily basis because of commitments or living away, you may decide to employ suitable people to live in your home and take care of you. This decision has to be an individual one. Before you or your family decides to make these arrangements, check what you may lose in free services that are available to you in your Integrated Care Board or local authority area. There are many agencies now providing such services and working in coordination with the NHS. Unless you or your family have direct knowledge of a particular one, make sure that you use a reputable agency and check that staff have appropriate experience and, where required, the necessary Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and that you fully understand the fees charged by the agency. 15
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Having the right support will make all the difference at a difficult and emotional time.
USEFUL CONTACTS /ORGANISATIONS Listed below are a number of organisations that will be able to give you more advice about meeting your requirements. This is by no means an exhaustive list and you may find that there are local organisations who can tell you more about the services on offer in your area. If you are living in Scotland or Wales, you are advised to read our Scottish or Welsh edition of the Regaining Your Independence Guide as many of the organisations listed below have a dedicated Scottish or Welsh branch, and different rules, regulations and legislation may apply.
Age UK 7th Floor, One America Square, 17 Crosswall, London EC3N 2LB
Advice Line Tel: 0800 678 1602 8am - 7pm every day, 365 days a year
For lifeline schemes (emergency alarm systems), details of Age UK groups, factsheets and briefing documents on matters concerning older people.
Email: via the online contact form www.ageuk.org.uk Facebook/X
Alzheimer’s Society Write to us at: Alzheimer’s Society Suite 2 1st Floor East Wing Plumer House Tailyour Road Plymouth
Fundraising and General Enquiries Tel: 0330 333 0804 8am-10pm every day
PL6 5FS
Dementia Support Line 0333 150 3456 Mon to Weds: 9am – 8pm, Thurs and Fri: 9am – 5pm, Sat and Sun: 10am – 4pm
Information and support for people with dementia, their families and carers.
Email: via the online enquiry form www.alzheimers.org.uk Facebook/X/Instagram/YouTube
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Arthritis UK
We offer a range of support and services to help you manage your arthritis and connect with other people who share a similar experience. We can offer support in person, online or on the phone and we can connect you with other people with arthritis.
Helpline 0800 5200 520 Mon – Fri 9am – 6pm Email: enquiries@arthritis-uk.org www.arthritis-uk.org
Benefits
www.gov.uk/browse/benefits
Bladder and Bowel UK
Helpline: 0161 214 4591
Burrows House, 10 Priestley Road, Manchester M28 2LY
Email: bbuk@disabledliving.co.uk or via the online contact form www.bbuk.org.uk
British Heart Foundation
Customer Services 0300 330 3322 Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm Email: heretohelp@bhf.org.uk Textphone: 18001 0300 330 3322 Heart Helpline: 0808 802 1234 to speak to a cardiac nurse Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm Email: hearthelpline@bhf.org.uk
A wide selection of leaflets can be downloaded from the website. Topics include all aspects of heart disease and treatment, dietary and other lifestyle guidelines. You can find out about preparing for heart surgery, recovery and dealing with post operative difficulties; leaving hospital after a heart attack / surgery; life saving techniques and the importance of emergency aid, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
British Red Cross UK Office, 44 Moorfields, London, EC2Y 9AL British Red Cross branches have a supply of products for loan to aid independent living.
www.bhf.org.uk Facebook/X Independence/30/English/Ed/Au/1
Arthritis UK, 120 Aldersgate Street, London, EC1A 4JQ
General Enquiries 0344 871 11 11 Email: via the online contact form www.redcross.org.uk Facebook/X/Instagram/YouTube 17
Cancer Care Map
www.cancercaremap.org
Cancer Care Map is an online resource to help people living with cancer find care and support services in their local area, anywhere in the UK.
Care Quality Commission CQC is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve. We monitor, inspect and regulate services and publish what we find.
Tel: 03000 616161 Mon-Fri - 8.30am - 5.30pm (except bank holidays) Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk or via the online contact form www.cqc.org.uk X / Facebook / YouTube
Where we find poor care, we will use our powers to take action.
Carers Trust Carers Trust is a major charity for, with and about carers. We work to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems. We do this with Network Partners - a unique network of independent carers centres, Crossroads Care schemes and young carers services. Together we are united by a shared vision for carers - to make sure that information, advice and practical support are available to all carers across the UK.
To find your nearest Carers Trust Network Partner, call 0300 772 9600 Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm or visit our website Email: info@carers.org www.carers.org
Carers UK 20 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4LX Carers UK offers advice and support to carers. You are a carer if you look after a relative, friend or neighbour because they are frail, ill or have a disability.
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Advice line: 0808 808 7777 Mon- Fri 9am - 6pm Email: advice@carersuk.org www.carersuk.org X / Facebook
Centre for Accessible Environments Provides information for people with disabilities about adapting their home. Contact your council’s housing or environmental health department about applying for a grant to make the necessary alterations.
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Membership organisation of more than 65,000 chartered physiotherapists, associates and physio students.
Citizens Advice
Tel: 020 7822 8232 Mon – Fri 9.30 am – 5pm (excluding bank holidays) Email: info@cae.org.uk www.cae.org.uk X / Facebook
Tel: 020 7306 6666 Mon- Fri 8.30 am – 5pm Email: via the online contact form www.csp.org.uk
Adviceline (England): 0800 144 8848 For free, independent, confidential and impartial advice or find your local bureau visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 4DR Use the Department for Transport’s enquiry line as a first point of contact for information and advice about older road users and drivers, and driving with a disability.
Diabetes UK Wells Lawrence House, 126 Back Church Lane, London E1 1FH
Switchboard: 0300 330 3000 (8.30am – 5.20pm) Check the list of contacts on the website for the most appropriate email address at: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ department-for-transport Independence/30/English/Ed/Au/1
Department for Transport
Diabetes UK Careline: 0345 123 2399 Mon-Fri 9am - 6pm Email: helpline@diabities.org.uk Visit Diabetics UK website for more information www.diabetes.org.uk Facebook/X 19
Foundations National body for disabled facilities grants and home improvement agencies across England
Tel: 0300 124 0315 Mon - Fri 8.30am - 5pm Email: info@foundations.uk.com www.foundations.uk.com x.com/FoundationsHIA
Foundations Independent Living Trust Foundations Independent Living is a charitable arm of Foundations. We help older and vulnerable people live with dignity in their own homes by operating funds which enable local home improvement agencies to provide a range of support including repairs and improvements to people’s homes.
Homecare Association
Email: via the online contact form www.foundation.uk.com x.com/FoundationsHIA
Helpline: 020 8661 8188
Mercury Way, 117 Waterloo Road, London. SE1 8UL The Homecare Association is the UK’s membership body for homecare providers. Together we ensure that homecare is valued so that all of us can live well at home and flourish within our communities.
Hearing Link The Grange, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, HP27 9NS
Email: enquiries@homecareassociation.org.uk www.homecareassociation.org.uk
Call or Text: 01844 348111 Email: info@hearingdogs.org.uk www.hearingdogs.org.uk/support/ hearinglink
Hospice UK
Tel: 020 7520 8200
34-44 Britannia Street, London, WC1X 9JG
Email: via the online enquiry form www.hospiceuk.org
Hospice UK is a national charity for hospice and palliative care. We work to ensure all adults and children living with a terminal illness or lifeshortening illness receive the care and support they need, when they need it.
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Independent Age 18 Avonmore Road, London W14 8RR We provide information, advice and support for thousands of older people, their carers and families.
LGBT+ Switchboard At Switchboard we provide information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men and bisexual and trans people – and anyone considering issues around their sexuality and/or gender identity.
Living Made Easy
General Enquiries: 020 7605 4200 Helpline: 0800 319 6789 Mon – Fri 8.30am - 5.30pm Email: helpline@independentage.org www.independentage.org
Tel: 0800 0119 1000 Open 10am – 10pm every day Email: hello@switchboard.lgbt www.switchboard.lgbt
www.livingmadeeasy.org.uk
Impartial help, advice and information about daily living equipment, disability equipment, mobility and independent living aids for older people, disabled adults or children, their family and carers.
Local Health Services
Visit www.nhs.uk or your local health authority
Macmillan Cancer Support 89 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7UQ
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To find out more about GPs, dentists, pharmacists or opticians in your area.
Macmillan Support Line: 0808 808 00 00 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm Email via the online enquiry form www.macmillan.org.uk Facebook/X
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The Macular Society Post: PO Box 1870, Andover SP10 9AD
Helpline: 0300 3030 111 or email: help@macularsociety.org
The Macular Society is the national charity for anyone affected by central vision loss. We provide free information and support to improve lives today and we fund research so that one day we can overcome macular disease.
Support Care (Membership and general enquiries) Tel: 01264 350 551 or email: info@macularsociety.org www.macularsociety.org Facebook/X
Mind - The Mental Health Charity Write to us at: 2 Redman Place London, E20 1JQ For support, referral to local organisations for counselling, self-help groups and drop-in centres in your area.
NHS
Mind Info Line 0300 123 3393 Mon – Fri 9am-6pm (except bank holidays) Support Line: 0300 102 1234 Mon – Fri 9am-6pm (except bank holidays) Email: info@mind.org.uk www.mind.org.uk Facebook/X
Call 111 (if you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency) www.nhs.uk
Oral Health Foundation Smile House, 2 East Union Street, Rugby, CV22 6AJ
Parkinson’s UK 215 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 1EJ
The Patients Association PO Box 935, c/o Aspire Business Partners, 32 Byron Hill Road, Harrow, HA1 3YJ For advice on patients’ rights, complaints procedures and access to health service and self-help groups.
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Tel: 01788 546 365 (local rate call in the UK) Email: mail@dentalhealth.org www.dentalhealth.org Facebook/X
Helpline: 0808 800 0303 Text Relay: 18001 0808 800 0303 Email: hello@parkinsons.org.uk www.parkinsons.org.uk
Helpline: 0800 345 7115 General Enquiries: 020 8423 9111 Email: helpline@patients-association.org.uk www.patients-association.org.uk X / Facebook
Reengage
This national charity arranges events, visits and companionship for older people who might otherwise feel isolated. They organise free monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for older people aged 75 or over, who live alone. For information about live-in-companions, daily or longer term nurses or care workers, see your Yellow Pages or telephone directory under headings such as ‘Employment Agencies, ‘Nursing Agencies’ or ‘Care Agencies’ one to one and group befriending.
Freephone: 0800 716 543 Office Phone 020 7240 0630
Royal College of Occupational Therapists
General Enquiries: 020 3141 4600
Royal College of Occupational Therapists
Email: hello@rcot.co.uk www.rcot.co.uk X / Facebook
Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) Supporting people with sight loss.
Royal National Institute for Deaf (RNID) RNID work with communities and partners across health, employment, research, government and more to change life for the better.
Helpline: 0303 123 9999 Mon - Fri 9am – 9pm Sat 9am – 1pm Email: helpline@rnib.org.uk or via the online contact form www.rnib.org.uk Facebook/X
Information Line: 0808 808 0123 Text Message: 07360 268 988 Relay UK 18001 0808 808 0123 Live Chat via our website Email: contact@rnid.org.uk or via the online contact form www.rnid.org.uk Facebook/X
Royal Osteoporosis Society St James House, The Square, Lower Bristol Road, Bath, BA2 3BH
General Enquiries Tel: 01761 471771 Helpline: 0808 800 0035 Mon – Thur 9am – 4.30pm, Fri 9am – 4pm Email: info@theros.org.uk www.theros.org.uk
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Phoenix House 106-114 Borough High Street London SE1 1LB
Email: info@reengage.org.uk or via the online enquiry form www.reengage.org.uk X / Facebook
Royal Voluntary Service Royal Voluntary Service (formerly WRVS) supports older people throughout Britain through a variety of community and hospital based services. The charity has over 40,000 volunteers that help older people stay independent at home and active in the local community through services such as, Good Neighbours (companionship), Meals on Wheels and Books on Wheels. The charity also provides practical support for older people who have been in hospital through its onward befriending and home from hospital services.
Samaritans Freepost, SAMARITANS LETTERS
Visit our website www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk and email us via the online contact form X / Facebook
National Helpline: 116 123 24 hours a day, 365 days a year Email: jo@samaritans.org www.samaritans.org
Self Help Groups If you feel isolated and would like to talk to others who share a similar experience, ask your hospital about self-help groups in your area. Ask where you can obtain a directory of self-help groups, or for information on how to go about forming a new self-help group for understanding and support from people who share similar problems or life situations.
Sense Freepost RRXE–TREX-GEUR 101 Pentonville Road, London N1 9LG Information for visually and hearing impaired people.
Shop Mobility UK c/o Driving Mobility, The Old Carriage Works, Moresk Road, Truro, TR1 1DG Shopmobility schemes loan wheelchairs and scooters to enable disabled people to shop independently. If you wish to hire mobility equipment, contact us via our website
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Support Service Team: 0300 330 9257 Email: via the online enquiry form www.sense.org.uk
www.shopmobilityuk.org
Smokefree NHS Talk to a trained advisor for advice and support
Call National Smokefree on 0800 1231044 to speak to a trained advisor Mon - Fri 9am - 8pm, Sat & Sun 11am - 4pm www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking Facebook/X
Solicitors’ Regulation Authority The Cube, 199 Wharfside Street, Birmingham, B1 1RN
Contact Centre 0370 606 2555 Ethics Helpline 0370 606 2577 www.sra.org.uk
SRA can provide details of solicitors in your area, including those who specialise in wills and probate.
Stroke Association Write to us at: Supporter Relations Stroke Association 1 Sterling Business Park Salthouse Road Northampton NN4 7EX At the Stroke Association we believe in life after a stroke. We support stroke survivors to make the best recovery they can.
Stroke Helpline: 0303 3033 100 Email: helpline@stroke.org.uk Supporter Relations Team Tel: 0300 3300 740 Email: supporter.relations@stroke.org.uk www.stroke.org.uk Facebook/X
Wheelchair Provision
Well Aware Health and Wellbeing at your fingertips! Well Aware is a website run by The Care Forum with lots of information about 1,000s of health, wellbeing and community services.
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To find out about obtaining a temporary wheelchair, you might want to contact your local NHS Wheelchair Service, your local British Red Cross or your local Shopmobility Scheme.
Tel: 0808 808 5252 This call is FREE. The Well Aware Team at the Care Forum will search for information for you. Email: info@wellaware.org.uk Log on to www.wellaware.org.uk 25
ABOUT THIS GUIDE The information provided in this publication is given in good faith and is in no way connected to or affiliated with any of the organisations contained within this publication. The information supplied should not be taken as legal advice. The content is also not intended to replace other healthcare professional advice that you may be encouraged to seek. Professional advice should be sought where appropriate. Any rates and information contained within this publication was correct at the time of writing in August 2026. As benefit entitlements change regularly, you are advised to contact the benefits enquiry line or your local Jobcentre Plus for information about current entitlements.
A helpful guide to support convalescence after a stay in hospital This booklet covers several topics of interest from continuing healthcare, support at home, helping with financial matters and a list of useful organisations at the back of the guide. You can also scan the QR code to visit our website, where you’ll find our extensive list of helpful publications.
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