Care homes near Royal Berkshire Hospital, Caversham – page 4

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 Royal Berkshire Hospital is doing

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

Services for older people at Royal Berkshire Hospital

• Elderly care wardsLevel 3, Battle BlockSpecialist medical care for older adults. Related wards are Burghfield, Emmer Green, Mortimer and Woodley. Source
• Rapid Assessment Clinic for Older People (RACOP)Multi-disciplinary specialist assessment for older people. Source
• Falls clinicBattle Block outpatients and therapies departmentA weekly consultant-led, multidisciplinary falls clinic. Patients can be referred from the emergency department, GP practices and community partners. Source
• Hip fracture unitEmmer Green wardA hip fracture unit set up in 2015, where patients are admitted directly from the emergency department for perioperative care, multidisciplinary input and rehabilitation. Source
• Orthogeriatric serviceDaily orthogeriatric input to the orthopaedic wards, with pre-operative assessment and multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Source
• Acute stroke unitLevel 1, Battle BlockThe trust's designated hyper-acute stroke unit, with acute stroke care and rehabilitation on site. Source
• Palliative care teamSupports individuals, families and carers affected by life-limiting conditions, and advises ward staff. Open seven days a week, including bank holidays. Source
• Discharge loungeLevel 1, Battle Block OutpatientsMost patients are moved here on the day they leave hospital. Nurses and health care assistants look after them while the lounge team coordinates with wards, transport crews, family and pharmacy. Source
• Patient advice and liaison service (PALS)Help and advice for patients and families with questions or concerns. Phone 0118 322 8338. Source

Getting there and visiting

• Buses and trainsThe hospital is a 15 minute walk from Reading railway station. Source
• Buses and trainsBuses serving the hospital include Buzz 9, Leopard 3, the 300 park and ride, and Little Oranges 19a, 19b and 19c. Source
• Buses and trainsThe 300 park and ride bus runs between the hospital and the Mereoak and Thames Valley Park sites, Monday to Friday. Source
• ParkingPaid parking at the multi-storey, North Block and Endoscopy car parks, with pay on exit, and pay and display at Melrose House. All visitor car parks have dedicated Blue Badge bays; Blue Badge holders validate their parking by registering or at reception. Source
• VisitingOpen visiting for carers, care partners and relatives of patients with dementia, learning disabilities or at the end of life. General visiting is limited to two visitors per patient at one time; check ward arrangements. Source
• NHS patient transportEMED provides non-emergency patient transport for Berkshire West (Reading, West Berkshire and Wokingham). Booking and enquiries line 0300 777 3333. Source

Care homes near other hospitals

• Care homes near Townlands Memorial Hospital · minor injuries unit · 6.5 miles away
• Care homes near Bracknell Urgent Treatment Centre (Brants Bridge) · urgent treatment centre · 10.1 miles away
• Care homes near Frimley Park Hospital · A&E · 13 miles away
• Care homes near Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital · A&E · 13.4 miles away

Questions about care homes near Royal Berkshire Hospital