Support at home after leaving hospital

When you are in hospital you will meet different health care professionals. That may include:

• an oncologist – a doctor who treats people who have cancer 
• a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) – a nurse who gives information about cancer, and support during treatment 
• a surgeon – a doctor who does operations (surgery)
• a support worker – someone who works as part of a cancer care team to provide information and support for people living with cancer.

Before going home from hospital, other healthcare professionals may be involved in your care. It may help to understand what they do and how they may support you.

District nurses and community nurses work closely with GPs. They visit people at home to provide advice and support for patients and support family members and carers.

Your ward nurse or keyworker may contact your local district nursing service before you go home to arrange a home visit. Not everyone needs this type of help. You may be well enough to go to your GP surgery to see a practice nurse, for example to have stitches taken out. If that happens, you will not need a district nurse visit.

A district nurse or a community nurse will assess your healthcare needs.

The district nurse can:

• give information to you and your carer
• provide support to keep you as independent as possible
• help you manage your medicines at home
• check on your temperature, blood pressure and breathing
• give injections, change wound dressings or remove stitches
• help with managing stomas, catheters, feeding tubes and central lines
• give advice on eating well (nutrition), looking after skin and pressure areas, and bowel or bladder problems
• refer you to other health or social care professionals you may need.

The district nurse can also arrange equipment to be delivered. They will show you how to use it safely. This includes a:

• commode, if you have difficulty moving to the bathroom to use the toilet
• special mattress, if you have difficulty moving, or you need to spend a lot of time in bed
• bedpan, for going to the toilet in bed
• hoist or sling, if you are unable to move to and from your bed, chair or commode
• hospital bed.

You may have symptoms or side effects from your cancer or treatment. Symptoms such as fatigue or numb or tingling hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy) can make everyday tasks more difficult.

An occupational therapist (OT) can look at how you manage day-to-day activities. They may check to see if you need help with activities such as dressing, washing and cooking. They can suggest ways to help you. 

They can also arrange practical changes to make your home safe, comfortable and easy to live in. 

Sometimes they need to visit your home to assess your needs. If this happens, it can be done with you, a family member or carer. Sometimes the hospital OT will ask a community OT to do this assessment when you go home.

After the assessment, the OT will give you information about adaptations, aids or equipment that might be right for you. If you agree, they can arrange any equipment you need.

Adaptations to your home can sometimes take a while. You may be discharged before these are done, but only if it is safe for you. 

The OT may think it would help for carers to come and help you with your personal care or preparing meals. They will refer you to a social worker who will organise this. 

A social worker is responsible for assessing what practical, financial and social help you need. They are also trained in offering emotional support.

A social worker may sometimes be called a care manager. While you are in hospital, you may be referred to a hospital social worker, care manager or assessment officer if you need help with:

• preparing meals
• personal care such as washing and dressing
• finances.

If you are at home, you can request help yourself by contacting your local social services department. Find your local council on the gov.uk website.

If you are having problems with leakage (incontinence) from your bladder or bowel, it can be difficult to manage. It can also be upsetting for you.

Your district nurse will help with:

• providing information on managing problems with leakage
• supplying pads, urinary catheters or other equipment or aids
• referring you to a continence adviser if you need it.

A continence adviser is a specialist nurse or physiotherapist who gives advice and support to people with continence problems. They can assess the problem and give you advice and information about aids to manage it.

Age UK has information on how you can get free incontinence products. You may also be able to get help with laundry services. You can get more information from:

• Bladder and Bowel UK
• the Bladder and Bowel Community.

Voluntary organisations and charities can provide support to people at home. They can also help the people close to you. The help they offer includes:

• information and support
• lending aids and equipment
• grants and other financial support and advice
• respite care for carers, so they can take a break
• counselling and support groups
• transport services
• befriending and practical help.

Your specialist nurse or keyworker should be able to tell you about local voluntary organisations and charities. You can also speak to our cancer support specialists for free on 0808 808 00 00.

After you come home from hospital, you might find it helpful to talk to others who have been through similar situations. 

You might find it useful to join a support group or online community. They can be a good option when you find it hard to talk to family members or friends. 

Joining a support group for people affected by cancer can give you and the people close to you the chance to talk to others who understand. The nurses in the hospital may be able to give you information about local support groups. 

We have more information about the different types of help available.

You may want to join an online support group or chat room for people affected by cancer. On our Online Community, you can speak to people in our chat rooms, talk about your experiences, share your thoughts and feelings, make friends and join support groups.