Support and companionship for hospital appointments

Support when attending hospital appointments

Going to a hospital appointment can bring a lot to think about. There’s getting there, finding the right department, waiting to be seen and making the journey home again. Having someone by your side can make the day feel a little easier.

For some people, attending an appointment alone can feel worrying. You may have reduced mobility, be recovering from an illness or simply feel more comfortable knowing there is someone with you. Family members may usually accompany you but aren’t always able to be there.

That’s where Bluebird Care Barking & Dagenham can help.

Our Hospital Appointment Companionship service gives you the support of a friendly Care Professional who can accompany you to your appointment and be there throughout your visit.

Whether you need help getting to and from the hospital, someone to sit with you while you wait or simply a familiar face by your side, we’ll take the time to understand what would help you feel comfortable and supported.

Someone by your side

Hospital appointments can sometimes involve long waits and unfamiliar surroundings. Having someone there to talk to, help you find your way or simply keep you company can bring welcome reassurance.

Our Care Professionals understand that everyone feels differently about attending hospital. Some people may want to chat on the journey, while others may prefer a quieter presence. You might want someone to stay close while you wait or need practical help carrying your belongings.

We’ll listen to you and provide support in a way that takes your needs and preferences into account.

For us, companionship is about more than simply accompanying you from one place to another. It’s about being there, treating you with dignity and respect, and helping you feel supported throughout your time away from home.

How we can support you

Depending on your needs and appointment arrangements, our Hospital Appointment Companionship service can include:

• Accompanying you to and from your hospital appointment
• Providing companionship during your journey
• Staying with you while you wait to be seen
• Helping you find the correct department or waiting area
• Providing practical help with personal belongings where appropriate
• Being a friendly and familiar presence during your visit
• Supporting you as you make your way home after your appointment

Before the day of your appointment, our team can talk with you about what support you need and what arrangements are already in place.

Our Care Professionals provide companionship and practical support. Medical advice, diagnosis, treatment and clinical care will always remain the responsibility of the appropriate healthcare professionals.

Support before, during and after your appointment

Support doesn’t necessarily begin when you arrive at the hospital.

Depending on your arrangements, your Care Professional can be there from the time you leave home, accompany you on the journey and stay with you while you wait for your appointment.

Hospitals can be busy places, and finding the right department isn’t always straightforward. Having someone with you can mean there’s another person there to help you find your way and keep you company while you wait.

Once your appointment has finished, your Care Professional can accompany you as you leave the hospital and support you with your return home according to the arrangements agreed beforehand.

It means you don’t have to face each part of the journey alone.

Support that works around you

No two hospital appointments are quite the same, and neither are the people attending them.

You may simply want someone to keep you company. You might feel more comfortable having someone nearby while you wait, or you may need practical support getting around the hospital.

We’ll take the time to understand what matters to you.

Your support can be arranged around your appointment and individual circumstances wherever possible, so you know what to expect on the day.

Our aim is to help you feel comfortable and supported while allowing you to maintain as much independence as possible.

Hospital appointment companionship for someone you love

There are times when you would like to accompany a loved one to hospital but simply can’t be there.

You may live further away, have work or family commitments, or be unable to attend on the day. Whatever the reason, knowing that someone you trust won’t have to attend their appointment alone can bring welcome peace of mind.

A Bluebird Care Professional can accompany your loved one and provide companionship throughout the agreed period of support.

They’ll have someone to talk to on the journey, someone beside them while they wait and a familiar source of support as they make their way through the hospital.

For families, it can be reassuring to know that their loved one has someone by their side when they aren’t able to be there themselves.

More than getting from A to B

Attending a hospital appointment isn’t only about getting there and coming home again.

Sometimes it’s the waiting that feels difficult. Sometimes it’s being somewhere unfamiliar. And sometimes it simply helps to have another person sitting beside you.

Our Care Professionals understand the importance of those everyday moments.

Whether that means sharing a conversation, listening when you want to talk or simply sitting with you quietly, we’re there to help make your time at the hospital feel a little less lonely.

It’s all part of the way we provide care at Bluebird Care Barking & Dagenham: listening to what matters to you and helping you continue living life in the way that works for you.

Arranging your hospital appointment companionship

If you or someone you love has an upcoming hospital appointment and would like someone by their side, our friendly team at Bluebird Care Barking & Dagenham can talk through the support available.

We’ll discuss your appointment arrangements, what kind of companionship or practical help you would like and how we may be able to support you on the day.

A hospital appointment may only take up part of your day, but having the right person beside you can make that time feel more comfortable.

Get in touch with Bluebird Care Barking & Dagenham to find out more about our Hospital Appointment Companionship service.

Call us: 0208 5911 200
Email: BarkingandDagenham@bluebirdcare.co.uk