Going into hospital

Hospital stays for over 16s

If you are under 16 and need to stay in hospital, you will usually stay in a children’s ward. Your parents or carers may be able to stay in the ward with you. 

When you turn 16, you may have to stay in an adult ward. There are times when you might still stay under the care of the children's doctors, for example, if you are 18 and have a learning disability. The hospital staff looking after you will decide which ward you will stay in.

When you stay in an adult ward, the learning disability liaison team at Royal Berkshire Hospital will support you during your stay.

Specialist learning disability and autism liaison nurses

The learning disability liaison team at Royal Berkshire Hospital helps adult patients with learning disabilities and autism, and their carers, to access the best care and have a positive experience while in hospital.

The learning disability nurses provide support with emergency admissions, outpatient appointments and inpatient stays. 

Ask your hospital to put you in touch with their Learning Disability Nurse ahead of your stay.

Hospital passports

A hospital passport is a document about you and your health needs. 

It includes important information about you, your likes and dislikes, and helps all the hospital staff know how to make you feel comfortable and safe.

If you are going into hospital, your hospital passport should go with you. The doctors and nurses should make a copy and put it in your hospital notes.

Download a hospital passport on the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust website.

Get more advice about going into hospital

There is more advice about the support you can get while in hospital on the NHS website.

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of easy read leaflets about hospitals for patients with communication difficulties.

Download these leaflets on the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust website.