Hospital Carer Advisors

Support when the person you care for is in hospital

Having the person you care for in hospital can be a difficult and stressful experience. But we have Hospital Carer Support Advisors at Surrey’s main hospitals to help you.

We offer support at East Surrey, Epsom and St Heliers, the Royal Surrey, and Ashford and St Peter’s

Our Advisors’ role is to help staff identify carers and to support them while their loved ones are in hospital. Whether you’re looking after someone who’s staying in hospital or just coming in for outpatient appointments, our advisors can help you. Sometimes, a new diagnosis or a development can mean you are going to need more help as a carer, so make sure you get the support you need.

You can contact our Advisors on their direct numbers below. And don’t forget you can call our Carer Helpline too for advice, support and information – 0303 040 1234 (text on 07723 486730).

How our Hospital Carer Support Advisors help carers

They work closely with hospital staff to identify carers, and can approach them directly. Often they bridge communication gaps between the carer and the hospital, and offer advice, information, as well as emotional support. Importantly, they can speak on your behalf, including at some meetings. They also signpost carers and their loved ones to support from other organisations.

Every hospital works slightly differently, but our Hospital Carer Support Advisors know each hospital well, so they can guide you through the system and make sure you access all the help available.

Being with someone in hospital

Each hospital has its own system (often called a ‘carer’s passport’) for carers supporting someone who’s in or attending the hospital and our Hospital Carer Advisors can help you through the process.

They can also help with the discharge process, which can be especially challenging for carers, as well as put them in touch with ACS’s Carer Support Advisors, back in the community. We can also refer on to our Moving and Handling team, if you need to give more physical help to the person you care for, following their hospital stay.

Carers’ Hospital Guide

We have a very comprehensive and practical booklet all about being a carer in Surrey when the person you look after is in hospital. The booklet covers what you need to know, and do, before during and after a hospital stay.

Call us to request a printed copy of our Carers’ Hospital Guide, or download it below:

Carers’ Hospital Guide

All about Me Form

If the person you care for has difficulty communicating, or has a condition such as dementia or autism that might make a hospital stay particularly challenging, please consider using our ‘All About Me’ form.

This simple form outlines the person you care for’s likes and preferences, as well as containing some information about them. Ideally then Hospital Staff are better informed, and the carer for’s hospital stay can be less stressful.

All about me form

Other hospitals

If you’re supporting someone who’s in or attending hospital outside Surrey, such as St George’s, the Royal Marsden, Moorfields, or Great Ormond Street, and are registered with us, our official NHS Carer Identification Letter would also be useful in confirming your role as a carer. This can help you access the hospital’s carer services, and perhaps accompany your loved one if they need extra help. It’s easy (and free) to register with us here – and we can help you in other ways too.

Find out about getting support from our Hospital Advisors by calling us on 0303 040 1234.

Our hospital carer support advisors

Royal Surrey County Hospital

Naheeda Majid: Monday-Friday
07850 515457
[email protected]

Epsom and St Helier Hospital

Michele Moore: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
07736 561978
[email protected]
and

Tamzin Ede: Thursdays and also Hospital Carer Support Team Manager
07736 561976
[email protected]
Read more about Michele and Tamzin’s work at Epsom Hospital here