Care homes near Croydon University Hospital, Thornton Heath – page 12

Leaving hospital: what happens next

1. Planning starts early. The ward usually starts planning a discharge soon after admission. Ask who is coordinating it and when the patient is expected to be ready to leave.
2. Ask for a needs assessment. If the patient may need care afterwards, the hospital discharge team works with the council’s social care team to assess what support is needed. The assessment is free.
3. Short-term support may come first. Many people go home or to a care home with short-term “intermediate care” or reablement, which is free for up to six weeks. Longer-term needs can then be assessed once they have recovered.
4. Ask about NHS Continuing Healthcare. If the patient’s needs are mainly health needs, ask for an assessment for NHS Continuing Healthcare. If they qualify, the NHS pays the full cost of their care. How it works.
5. Choosing a care home. A hospital bed usually can’t be kept while you wait for a particular home, so a short or interim stay is common. Use the list above to shortlist homes, and see our guides to hospital discharge, choosing a care home and respite and short stays.

How Croydon University Hospital is doing

A&E figures are for the whole NHS trust, not only this site.

Services for older people at Croydon University Hospital

• Acute care of the elderly unitA 14-bed unit for consultant-led acute care of older patients. Source
• Elderly care wardsThree general elderly care wards, two of them dementia-friendly environments. Source
• Orthogeriatric unit for hip fractureAn orthogeriatric unit cares for patients aged 65 and over with a hip fracture. Source
• Stroke unitPurley 3, 1st floor of the orange zoneA 26-bed ward for inpatients who have had a stroke, with a gym and an outpatient TIA clinic. Source
• Frailty same day emergency careA frailty same day emergency care service gives specialist review outside the emergency department. Source
• Falls clinicFalls clinics for people aged 65 and over at Croydon University Hospital and Purley War Memorial Hospital. Source
• Macmillan palliative care teamSpecialist palliative care advice and support for adult patients on all inpatient areas. Source
• Discharge loungePatients who are ready to leave may be asked to wait in the discharge lounge. Source
• Dementia gardenA dedicated garden to support dementia care for patients has opened at the hospital. Source
• Support for carersCarers can take part in a patient's personal care and may visit outside regular visiting times with the ward nurse's agreement. Source
• Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)PALS helps patients and families with concerns about care, by email or on 020 8401 3210. Source

Getting there and visiting

• Buses and trainsNearest rail stations are West Croydon, about a 15 minute walk, and East Croydon, about 35 minutes on foot. Source
• Buses and trainsBus routes 60, 64, 109, 198, 250 and 289 serve the hospital. Source
• ParkingPaid car parking, with drop-off zones near the main entrance offering free parking for 10 minutes. Source
• VisitingEach patient can have two identified, consistent visitors at a time; carers may visit outside regular times with agreement. Source
• NHS patient transportNon-emergency patient transport is for patients with very specific needs; the booking line is 020 3967 8399. Source

Care homes near other hospitals

• Care homes near St Helier Hospital · A&E · 3.3 miles away
• Care homes near Beckenham Beacon Urgent Treatment Centre · urgent treatment centre · 3.4 miles away
• Care homes near St George's Hospital (Tooting) · A&E · 3.9 miles away
• Care homes near King's College Hospital (Denmark Hill) · A&E · 5.5 miles away

Questions about care homes near Croydon University Hospital