NHS hospital services

If you've been referred to hospital for an operation or test and you need to stay overnight, it means you're being treated as an inpatient.

You have the right to choose which hospital to go to for your outpatient appointment and which consultant-led team will be in charge of your treatment.

See the Choosing a hospital section for more information.

When you arrive at the hospital, you will be welcomed by a member of staff who will explain the processes to you and what to expect. You will be given an identity bracelet to wear at all times while you're in the hospital.

See Hospital admissions for more detailed information.

You may also be interested in our guidance about having an operation, which explains all the steps in the process.

While you're in hospital, you should be involved in all decisions about your treatment. If you wish, staff will keep members of your family or friends informed about your progress.

Will I be offered same-sex hospital accommodation?

Being in mixed-sex hospital accommodation can be difficult for some patients for a variety of personal and cultural reasons. All providers of NHS-funded care are expected to eliminate mixed-sex accommodation, except where it is in the overall best interests of the patient or reflects their personal choice.

While there are some circumstances where mixing can be justified, these are mainly confined to patients who need highly specialised care, such as that given in critical care units. Find out about being detained under the Mental Health Act to learn more about this.

There is no justification for placing a patient in mixed-sex accommodation where this is not in the best overall interests of the patient and where better management, better facilities or the removal of organisational constraints could have averted the situation.

Since April 2011, hospitals have had to provide a monthly report of the number of times they breach the Department of Health's same-sex accommodation guidance. The data is published on the NHS England website, and you can use this information to help you choose a hospital.

Hospitals can face fines of up to £250 for breaching the same-sex accommodation guidance. While this central reporting concentrates on sleeping accommodation, mixing in bathrooms and WCs is still unacceptable.

Will the hospital address possible mental health needs?

If you're physically ill and have to go to hospital for treatment, the team looking after you should also consider your mental health needs. Your hospital should have a liaison psychiatry service, also known as a psychological medicine service.

The service aims to bridge the gap between physical and mental healthcare. In discussion with you, your healthcare team should refer you to the liaison psychiatry service where appropriate to ensure your mental health needs are met.

Watch the video, What is liaison psychiatry?

Consent to treatment

For some procedures, including operations, you will be asked to sign a consent form. It's up to you whether you give your consent for a treatment. You should ask as much about the treatment as possible before giving your consent so you can give an informed decision.

For more tips, read Questions to ask the doctor.

You can change your mind after the consent form has been signed, but not after you have received sedation for a procedure.

For more information, see Consent to treatment.

You may wish to plan ahead for a time when you cannot give consent. You can pre-arrange a legally binding advance decision to refuse certain treatments, previously known as an advance directive. Healthcare professionals must follow the advance decision, provided it is valid and applicable.

In addition, you can make broader statements about how you wish to be treated, such as receiving terminal care at home rather than in hospital. These are not legally binding but will be taken into consideration by health professionals.

What if I am not able to give consent?

If you clearly lack the capacity to make decisions when you're admitted to hospital, health professionals will make what is called a "best interests decision" about whether a specific treatment is in your best interests.

Doctors and nurses will weigh up the benefits and risks, including whether you're likely to regain the ability to give or withhold consent. Read more about how capacity to consent is assessed.

Consent under the Mental Health Act

If you're held under the Mental Health Act, you can be treated against your will. This is because it's felt you do not have sufficient capacity to make an informed decision about your treatment at the time. This is also the case if you refuse treatment but the team treating you believe you should have it.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides detailed guidance about your rights in relation to consent to medication and electroconvulsive therapy if you're detained in hospital or placed on a community treatment order (CTO).

Learn more about the Mental Health Act or download the easy read factsheets that explain your rights.

Consent for children and young people

Before a doctor, nurse or therapist can examine or treat your child, they must have consent or agreement. As a parent, you will make your decisions based on what you feel is in your child's best interests.

It is, however, advisable to involve children as much as possible in these decisions. This will give them a sense of control, and they are more likely to respond positively to their treatment.

People aged 16 or over are entitled to consent to their own treatment, and this can only be overruled in exceptional circumstances.

Find out more about consent from children and young people.

Advice for parents with children

Children can find going to hospital a daunting experience. This is partly to do with their treatment but also because the hospital is a new and strange environment, full of new sights, smells, noises and people. If possible, talk to your child before leaving for hospital and explain what they should expect.

Stay with your child as much as you can

Children often adapt better to a hospital if their parents stay with them for as long as possible. Reassure your child that you will be staying by their side and let them know the hospital is a safe place to be.

However, if you have to leave the hospital at any time, inform your child how long you will be gone for and make sure you're back on time.

If you're able to stay with your child overnight, the hospital may arrange for an extra bed in your child's room or ward.

Stick to a routine

Keeping a routine can help your child feel more at home – it may help if, for example, you stick to your child's usual bedtime routine, or bring in their favourite toy or comforter.

Take time for yourself

While it's important to reassure children about their stay in hospital, it's just as important to look after yourself. You will be better able to care for your child and give support if you're coping well yourself.

Remember, it's fine to take breaks. Go for a walk, or get a cup of tea or coffee. Talk things through with your partner, friends or family; they will be able to give support, and talking can be a great stress reliever.

For information about neonatal care, see Special care for ill or premature babies.

Staying mobile

Staying mobile in hospital can help you recover more quickly. Being immobile can lead to additional health problems, such as infections and pressure sores. It can also increase your risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), which is when a blood clot forms in a vein.

To avoid VTE, you will be encouraged to move about the ward regularly. You will be given as much assistance as you need to move about. If you're at an increased risk of VTE, you will be given compression stockings to improve your circulation.

For more information about compression stockings, see How long should I wear compression stockings after surgery?

Death in hospital

If someone you know dies while in hospital, the staff will advise you about what to do. If you're their next of kin, you will need to identify their body and may need to give permission for a post-mortem to be carried out.

For more information about what to do after someone dies, visit the GOV.UK website.