Skip to content
Accessibility Statement
Text size:
Birmingham Connect to Support

Health

Click on the sections below to find out more information.

You can always return to the interactive community to select a different category.

Whether you are admitted to hospital by appointment or following an accident or emergency, the clinical staff are there to make sure that you are well looked after and that you get the treatment you need.

The hospitals in Birmingham and their websites are:

There are some standards which the NHS hospitals must meet. The hospital staff must:

  • show respect for your privacy, dignity and religious and cultural beliefs
  • handle your treatment with complete confidentiality
  • look after you in a clean and safe environment
  • provide a named nurse in charge of your care

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) offer confidential advice, support and information on health-related matters. They provide a point of contact for patients, their families and their carers. You can find PALS officers in your local hospital.

Useful links:

If you cannot use public transport, then try contacting a wheelchair accessible taxi firm or one of the voluntary organisations who can provide transport for hospital appointments. Your GP surgery may have a list of local hospital transport schemes. You can also search the community groups directory and select the type of transport and area required.

Your State Pension stays the same no matter how long you are in hospital but a prolonged stay may affect some benefits you are entitled to.

  • If you receive an Attendance Allowance and are going to be in hospital for more than four weeks, call the Attendance Allowance Helpline (opens in new window) on 0345 605 6055
  • If you receive the Personal Independence Allowance (PIP), you should contact the PIP General Information line (opens in new window) on 0345 850 3322.

You should also contact Birmingham City Council (opens in new window) who may deal with your claims for housing and council tax benefit. In most cases they will reassess your benefit entitilement to take account of your new circumstances. You can also find out if you are entitled to other benefits from this page (opens in new window).

To find out if any other benefit you are claiming (e.g. Jobseeker's allowance) is affected by a stay in hospital or if there are any benefits that you may now be entitled to, contact your local Jobcentre Plus (opens in new window).

Carers often worry about what will happen if, at short notice, they are unable to care.

Forward Carers will help you to discuss and develop you own emergency plan so that you can arrange care or support at short notice. Telephone the Carers Hub on 0333 006 9711 (low call rate) or email info@birminghamcarershub.org.uk. 

If you have a pet and go into hospital, you will need someone to look after it while you are there. You can ask a family member, neighbour or friend to help look after your pet in the short term but you may need to contact a local cattery or kennel. You should find details of these in the telephone directory.

Other source of help include:

If you go into hospital in an emergency, you may not have time to make arrangements for your pet. Your Social Worker will advise you of the available options to you. They may ask you to make a reasonable contribution towards the cost of any temporary accommodation.

If you are unable to return home, the Council will talk to you, or to someone you have authorised to act on your behalf. They will agree what is the best option for your pet. They will not make any decision to rehome your pet without consent from you or your authorised representative.

Planning beforehand

If you know you are going into hospital, you should start thinking about what will happen when you leave. Some matters that will be particularly important are:

  • will you have a key or will there be someone at home to let you in?
  • will you have clothes to go home in, shoes and a coat?
  • will there be food in the house?
  • will the house be warm enough?
  • who will you be taking you home?
  • have you any close friends, relatives or neighbours who can help you if needed?

 

Emergency admissions

If you are admitted to hospital as an emergency case, you will need to consider these matters as soon as you are well enough. It is important that you, or your family or friends, raise any concerns you may have about your discharge from hospital as soon as possible.

 

If there will be nobody to help when you leave hospital

If you have nobody to help you, let the nursing staff looking after you know about your concerns as soon as possible. With your agreement, and where appropriate, they will refer you to the hospital social work team who can make an assessment of your needs. It is important that you tell them your views and wishes for the future. If you have someone who helps to look after you, their views, with your permission, will also be considered. They will also have the opportunity to have their own needs assessed through a carer's assessment.

 

Returning home

You may feel that you are fine to return home but if you get home and find that your are having difficulty coping with tasks around the house or with getting out, you can find a lot of information which can help you in the Staying Independent, Equipment House or Products and Services pages.

If you need further help and advice, contact Birmingham City Council Adult Socal Care Directorate (opens in new window).

 

Support when you return home

Some people may return home from hospital with support. This may be from adult social care and/or NHS health teams depending on their needs. Health and/ or Social Care staff will discuss your options with you.

Unable to return home

If you are unable to return home, even with help, health and/or social care staff will discuss your options with you. 

 

Further information

NHS information about leaving hospital (opens in new window)

Information about care after being in hospital from Age UK (opens in new window)

Information about caring for someone coming out of hospital from Carers UK (opens in new window)

Other care and support advice from Birmingham City Council (opens in new window)

To find a service, such as GP practices, opticians or pharmacists in your area, use the services search on the NHS website (opens in new window). 

NHS information (opens in new window) about Minor Injuries Units. Find your nearest Minor Injuries Unit. (opens in new window)

NHS information (opens in new window) on Walk-in Centres. Find your nearest NHS Walk-in Centre (opens in new window).

The Out of Hours service is available when your GP surgery is closed and is only for urgent health problems that can't wait until your surgery reopens. The service operates at night, over the weekend and on Bank Holidays. If you call your GP surgery, the answerphone message will always include an out of ours contact number. Alternatively, if it is not an immediate emergency, you can call NHS 111.

Emergency departments treat people with critical or life-threatening problems.

Health information and advice on a vast range of conditions and treatments can be found on the NHS Choices website (opens in new window).

There is also information available on specific conditions on our Information and Advice section of this website.

See our Keeping Active, Healthy & Well information pages for general health and wellbeing advice as well as information about mental health and specific information for those later in life.

Read our conditions and disabilities pages for information about specific conditions and disabilities.

You can also search in the Local Groups and Activities pages for details of local services available for you to enjoy.

Last updated: 7/1/2020
Previous Information and advice Next End of Life

Feedback on this page