Care homes near West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven

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 West Cumberland Hospital is doing

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

Services for older people at West Cumberland Hospital

• Care of the elderly unitWard for older people, including those with dementia and those who are acutely frail. Source
• Same day emergency care for frail older peopleSame day emergency care unit for frail, elderly patients, which the trust plans to keep permanently. Source
• Specialist palliative careSpecialist palliative care team for adults with a life-limiting illness; call 01946 853 333, option 8. Source
• Stroke rehabilitation unitRehabilitation unit for patients recovering from a stroke. Source
• Support and advice (PALS)Confidential support and advice service for patients, families and carers. Source

Getting there and visiting

• Buses and trainsBus 600 and 600s run from Carlisle to the hospital. Source
• Buses and trainsBus 22 and 22a run from Whitehaven Duke Street to Egremont via the hospital. Source
• Buses and trainsBus x7 runs from Ravenglass to Whitehaven or Millom via the hospital. Source
• Buses and trainsBus 30 runs from Thornhill or Frizington to Maryport via the hospital. Source
• Buses and trainsThe nearest station is Whitehaven; a bus from Tangier Street is a 3 minute walk from the station. Source
• ParkingBlue Badge holders park for free. All other patients and visitors pay on arrival at a payment machine. Source
• VisitingVisiting is open on most wards, with a maximum of 2 visitors at a time; check with the ward before you visit. Source
• NHS patient transportNorth West Ambulance Service patient transport; the local booking centre number is 01228 403031. Source

Care homes near other hospitals

• Care homes near Workington Community Hospital · urgent treatment centre · 7.8 miles away
• Care homes near Keswick Hospital · urgent care · 17.7 miles away

Questions about care homes near West Cumberland Hospital