For clinicians
Frequently asked questions
- When should I refer a patient to the hospital's Social Work Team?
- How do I refer a patient to the hospital Social Work Team?
- How is care arranged for patients after they leave hospital?
When should I refer a patient to the hospital's Social Work Team?
Refer to us if your patient, and/or their family/carer, needs:
- Discharge planning/arranging care at home
- Emotional support
- Practical support, such as accessing expert advice on a range of issues including housing and immigration.
If you are unsure if your patient should be referred to the Social Work team please contact us on the appropriate number below:
- For patients at Barts – contact Tony Seigal or Catherine Weir on tel 020 7601 8718
- For patients at The Royal London– speak to the duty social worker on tel 020 7377 7774. Alternatively you can discuss any possible referrals with the social worker attending the Multidisciplinary Team ward round.
- For patients at The London Chest – phone the Social Work Department on tel 020 8983 2296.
How do I refer a patient to the hospital Social Work Team?
To refer a patient to the hospital Social Workers please complete one/both of the referral forms below and return by fax to 020 7601 7620 for Barts and 020 7377 7005 for The Royal London and The London Chest.
Please ensure the forms are completed fully, so we can ensure the referrals are dealt with as quickly as possible.
- Download referring a patient to Social Work at Barts.
- Download referring a patient to Social Work at The Royal London or The London Chest.
How is care arranged for patients after they leave hospital?
Discharge planning
Care for people at home after they leave hospital is supplied and paid for by the local health and/or social care authority in the area where they live. Many of the patients at Barts come from all over North-East London, Essex and indeed from all over the country. The hospital Social Work Team assess, plan and negotiate with these authorities on behalf of patients, which means working with a lot of different systems and priorities.
For us to do this well and thoroughly, so that the patient and family feel supported and to ensure their care at home works well, it takes time, but it’s time well spent as it can avoid patients being readmitted unnecessarily.
When does discharge planning work best?
- When all professions work together, communicating consistently with each other, the patient and the patient’s family/carers.
- When referrals are timely, convey accurate information and the patient is kept informed. Please be aware that it can take at least three days after we receive the referral to arrange care at home.
- When discharge dates are estimated as carefully as possible and used as guidance throughout the discharge process.
- When medical/nursing/OT and physio reports are completed carefully and sent to the Social Work Team as soon as possible after they have been requested.
