Hospital at home

Welcome to the Hospital at Home Service

What is Hospital at home?

The Hospital at home service supports you to have your healthcare needs met within your own home, when previously they would have needed to be delivered within a hospital environment.

We know that when people are in hospital you can be exposed to other illnesses and you also do not move around as much, this reduction in mobility can lead to muscle weakening and reduced function. This level of inactivity can also increase the risk of developing conditions such chest infections or deep vein thrombosis. We know that patients who are supported through an acute illness are able, with the right support, to recover better in their own homes.

The Hospital at home service is provided in collaboration with North Tees and Hartlepool hospital, Hartlepool and Stockton GP federation, Tees, Esk and Wear Valley Mental Health Trust and both Hartlepool and Stockton local authorities.

The Hospital at home team is designed to replicate the level of care and support you would be provided with in a hospital environment, safely at home. The Hospital at home team consists of professionals across Health and Social Care, they are:

Hospital at home GP

This is not your registered GP. While you are on the Hospital at home service our own GP will support you with your medical needs.

Pharmacist

The Hospital at home Pharmacist will you with medication.

Community Practitioners

Our clinical practitioners will provide you with expert clinical assessment to support you both in your recovery and to help both you and those that support you to try and prevent future episodes of ill health.

Social Workers

The social workers have an understanding of the support you were provided with prior to an episode of ill health. The team will work with you to understand your care and support requirements for the future.

Therapists

The Team have both Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists who will support you during your recovery to achieve your maximum independence.

What can I expect to happen to me on the Hospital at home service?

You may be referred into the service as part of a supported early discharge from hospital or if you are experiencing a health or social care crisis within the community.

The team will come to your home to assess your health and social care needs on the very first day you start with the service. Together with yourself and those that care for you, we will develop a plan to support your needs at home. This may include,

• Providing care throughout the day and/or night
• A review of your medications
• Providing equipment to support mobility and function within the home
• Provision of falls equipment to support safety
• Monitoring of your observations such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature or blood oxygen levels
• Referrals to other health and social care teams
• Future care planning: to support you and those that provide you with care and support to manage your ongoing health and social care needs

Your healthcare plan will be supervised by the Hospital at home GP, ensuring any medical concerns are appropriately managed throughout your time within the service. The Hospital at home GP will communicate with your registered GP throughout the service and will provide a detailed handover when you are discharged from the service.

How do I contact the service if my needs change or if I am concerned about how I am feeling or managing?

In the event you feel your health is getting worse contact you can contact the Hospital at home service via the Single Point of Access line telephone

Single Point of Access
This number is open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.
Telephone: 01429 522500

The Single Point of Access team will put you through to our group of Hospital at home professionals who will be able to gain an understanding of your current issues and then provide appropriate professional responses to quickly meet your needs.

This is also the number you need to contact if you need to speak with the Hospital at Home GP.

How do I know that all my needs will be met?

As part of the setup for the Hospital at home service, each of the professionals within the team meet up every day to discuss how all the patients within the service are progressing. This is an opportunity for all professionals to discuss any concerns or issues that need to be addressed, as well as an opportunity for any of your own concerns or wishes you have discussed with the team to be shared with the wider service professionals.

What happens when I get discharged?

As the service ends, a professional within the service will discuss your individual health and social care plan with you and any concerns you may have as you are discharged from the Hospital at Home team.

A letter detailing the agreed plan will be sent to you and your registered GP outlining the care and support that has been provided to you on the Hospital at home service. This letter will outline that your health care management will now transfer back to your registered GP for any further health care problems.

We understand that health care conditions can change quite quickly, the Hospital at Home Service remains open to advice and support from the team for up to 7 days following discharge

Any referrals required into other health or social care teams, as well as voluntary sector services will be discussed with you as part of our robust discharge planning process that will support you in your recovery.

Comments, concerns, compliments or complaints

Patient Experience Team (PET)

We are continually trying to improve the services we provide. We want to know what we’re doing well or if there’s anything which we can improve, that’s why the Patient Experience Team (PET) is here to help. Our Patient Experience Team is here to try to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. The office is based on the ground floor at the University Hospital of North Tees if you wish to discuss concerns in person. If you would like to contact or request a copy of our PET leaflet, please contact:

Telephone: 01642 624719

Freephone: 0800 092 0084

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:00pm

Email: [email protected]

Out of hours

Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard who will bleep the appropriate person.

Telephone: 01642 617617

Data protection and use of patient information

The Trust has developed Data Protection policies in accordance with Data Protection Legislation (UK General Data Protection Regulations and Data Protection Act 2018) and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. All of our staff respect these policies and confidentiality is adhered to at all times. If you require further information on how we process your information please see our Privacy Notices.

Telephone: 01642 383551

Email: [email protected]

Leaflet feedback

This leaflet has been produced in partnership with patients and carers. All patient leaflets are regularly reviewed, and any suggestions you have as to how it may be improved are extremely valuable. Please write to the Clinical Governance team, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital of North Tees, TS19 8PE or:

Email: [email protected]

Leaflet Reference: PIL1438
Date for Review: 19/05/2026