Launch of the 'Our Dorset' Hospital Carer Passport

Dorset County Hospital, Dorset Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust have come together, with the support of local carers and other carer professionals, to create an ‘Our Dorset’ Hospital Carer Passport. The aim is to help carers be recognised and supported with their stay in hospital.

The purpose of the Carer Passport is to clearly identify carers when their cared-for person is admitted into hospital and for staff to welcome, involve and support carers while also helping them to understand the needs of the cared-for person throughout their hospital stay.

Carers have a right, but not a duty, to continue to care while their cared-for person is in hospital.

The Carer Passport scheme includes*:

• Flexibility with visiting times
• Inclusion in care
• Inclusion to assist at mealtimes
• Involvement in discussing and planning for discharge
• Access to information about patient care (with relevant consent)

*Each hospital’s passport offer may differ.

The benefit of a Hospital Carer Passport encourages hospital staff to have ‘carer conversations’ to ensure carers are involved and supported in their cared-for person’s care from admission through to discharge. For this reason, Carer Passports are non-transferrable from hospital to hospital.

For more information, please contact:

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole) Carer Support Service on Tel: 0300 019 8714 or email carersupport@uhd.nhs.uk