Keep details about the person you care for in an accessible place should someone else need to take over the care at short notice or if the person goes into hospital
Include:
- Personal details (Name, address, contact details, date of birth, NHS number, Hospital number, Social care ID if they have these)
- Medication (keep this up to date)
- Health conditions and any ongoing treatments
- GP details / consultant details
- Emergency contact details for you and other important people
Sometimes it is helpful to provide more detailed information particularly if the person may be unable to express their own views and wishes. Useful information could include: what they need help with, likes and dislikes, how to communicate most effectively.
There are some tools that can help you record this information.
You can find out more about the support provided at University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire on their website.
If you support someone with a learning disability talk to the person’s GP about getting a Hospital Passport. This is a booklet to record all the relevant information ready for hospital admissions. Specialist Hospital Liaison nurses can help plan the admission and make sure that there is additional support in place if required and this is all explained in the passport. If in doubt you could ask the hospital ward staff to make a referral.
