Involving a family carer from the moment of admission to hospital until the moment of discharge has been proven to give better quality of care and improved outcomes.

If you are admitted to hospital the person who cares for you should be involved in your care throughout your stay; particularly when you may not be able to make decisions yourself.

Medical professionals involved in your healthcare in hospital should be in constant communication with your carer. They should provide them with information, give the opportunity to discuss your needs, and allow them to make decisions. They should work to apply the Mental Capacity Act, when assessing a person who does not have the mental capacity to make decisions about their health and care.

For extra information, evidence and best practice please scroll down to the bottom of the page.

National offerings

Dementia Friendly Hospital Charter

The Dementia-Friendly Hospital Charter was launched in 2015 as the second phase of the Right Care initiative.The charter outlines the high level principles that a dementia-friendly hospital should provide, together with notes for self-assessment and recommended actions they could take to fulfil them. There has been a revised version as a result of COVID-19.
Weblinks:
https://www.dementiaaction.org.uk/assets/0003/9960/DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY_HOSPITAL_CHARTER_2018_FINAL.pdf
https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/johns-campaign-site.appspot.com/o/docs%2Fexternal%2Fdementia-friendly-hospital-charter-2020.pdf?alt=media

John's Campaign

For the right of people with dementia to be supported by their family carers; in hospital and during COVID-19 in care homes too. The website has links and resources.
Weblink: https://johnscampaign.org.uk/

Lasting Power of Attorney

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf. It gives you more control over what happens to you if you have an accident or an illness and cannot make your own decision (you lack mental capacity).
Telephone: Office of Public Guardian Telephone: 0300 456 0300
Email: customerservices@publicguardian.gsi.gov.uk
Weblink: https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney

Mental Capacity Act

Social Care Institute for Excellence - introduction and training resources on the Mental Capacity Act. Along with links to two booklets explaining what mental capacity act means to the person themselves and family members as supplementary resources.
Weblinks:
https://www.scie.org.uk/mca/introduction
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/365631/making_decisions-opg601.pdf

Healthwatch

Healthwatch is your health and social care champion. If you use GPs and hospitals, dentists, pharmacies, care homes or other support services, we want to hear about your experiences. As an independent statutory body, we have the power to make sure NHS leaders and other decision makers listen to your feedback and improve standards of care. Last year we helped nearly a million people like you to have your say and get the information and advice you need.
Telephone: Call: 03000 683 000 between the hours of 08:30 – 17:30 Monday to Friday
Email: enquiries@healthwatch.co.uk
Weblink: https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/your-local-healthwatch/list

Evidence

NICE 2016, transition between inpatient hospital settings and community: "Statement 1. Adults with social care needs who are admitted to hospital have existing care plans shared with the admitting team.
Statement 5. Adults with social care needs have family or carers involved in discharge planning if they are providing support after discharge... Carers an provide information about the person's needs and circumstances beyond medical conditions or physical needs."

"Research paper, Informal carer's perspectives on the delivery of acute hospital care for patients with dementia: "Good communication, involvement and relationship building between staff and carers is key to supporting a good experience for carers and ensuring that the patient’s individual needs are considered when deciding care plans and providing care."

National Audit of Dementia Care in General Hospitals 2018–2019: Trust Chief Executive Officers should ensure that, throughout the hospital, there is clear ongoing communication with families and carers of people with dementia, including:

Information and written resources on admission
A private space for discussions
Recording discussions in patient notes
Provision for out of hours visiting. As part of this, hospitals should ask carers about their views on the written and verbal information provided to them

Best Practice Resources

John's Campaign for the right to stay with people with dementia, for the right of people with dementia to be supported by their family carers: https://johnscampaign.org.uk/