Things to pack for a hospital stay?

[1989jubjub]

If you've been to hospital to stay for a couple of weeks, is there anything you would recommend to pack other than the obvious?

So far apart from toiletries, clothes, etc, I've thought of: iPad, kindle, earphones, maybe colouring book (?). But I'm sure there must be more things and I don't want to get to hospital and then think "oh no I should've taken X/Y/Z".

Anything that made your stays slightly more comfortable?

An ordinary NHS hospital? Take as little as possible, and absolutely nothing you'd be upset about losing/getting broken. Not every hospital ward has secure bedside storage, and the moment you leave your bed to go for a shower someone will whisk away your sheets and anything you've left on your bed with them. If it were me, I'd even leave my wedding ring at home.

But even though the nurses certainly won't have time to think about your belongings, they will give you the best care they can. Hope your procedure goes well!

Recently had an unexpected stay in hospital had already packed an emergency bag, took nighties, underwear, slippers and thin dressing gown. Hand and bath towel, flannel, shower gel, shampoo conditioner in one, brush, deodorant, toothbrush and paste. Also took money, change, book, reading glasses, charger and up to date list of medication. This was sufficient for a 2 week stay but as I was confined to bed wish I had taken dry shampoo so this has been added. I keep this bag packed and ready in case of emergency and importantly make sure you have keys so you can get back into the house if suddenly discharged.

I've been in hospital far too many times. In the hundreds.

My essential list is

My own large mug as I can't cope on thimble fulls of tea from the tea trolley - the staff will usually laugh and wash it for me or I can wash it in the sink

2 x 500ml insulated bottles. They ask me to drink lot of water due to low BP but the hospital never has ice and the water gets warm very quickly, so I put the jug of water into the bottles as soon as I get it then I can have COLD and palatable water all day long.

Long charging lead for phone/tablet

Earphones - to watch crap on phone and to block out noise

Own pillow and case - hospital pillows are covered in inflated plastic and I can never get comfortable. If worried about germs throw the pillow out after and boil was the pillow cases. Don't bring white cases and they won't get mixed up in hospital laundry

Fleece throw - depending on the ward it can be absolutely roasting or freezing. Some wards don't have enough blankets to go round.

Nightclothes - I've never been offered a gown to wear (unless for actual operation)

Slippers/slides - I usually bring birkinstocks as they are sturdy enough for physio and easy to put on

Warm socks

Usual toiletries - maybe include some baby wipes if you think you may not be able to get washed independently. Most of the time you will not be helped to be washed bar your hands and face. Again maybe bring mouthwash if you think you can't brush your teeth

Thick moisturiser, lip balm and hand cream - such a lack of air

There is usually a hairdryer on the ward, I've rarely bothered to use it mainly washing and letting it dry as I can't be bothered

A mini mirror might be a good call if you are likely to be bed bound as that's when you can "feel something"

Breakfast bars, dried fruit, healthy type snacks unless you have a great stomach and can eat hospital food. There is usually at least a few days where you just can't handle the meals provided....here they are still closing some wards due to covid and flu so better to be prepared incase noone can get in to bring you anything.

My hospital has free WiFi so I have all the entertainment I need on my phone/tablet. I can read, watch tv, listen to music
Sometimes I might bring in a craft project like crochet depending on the type of admission.

Perfume is a good one - it's nice to be able to smell something pleasant if someone on the ward is doing something that doesn't smell great.

Hope this helps. And that your stay is not too horrible and your recovery swift

As a frequent flyer I can second the more the better for a long stay. Some may see it as ridiculous but I've spent months at a time in hospital and being occupied, comfortable and warm are a must (a soft throw is best I've found). Noise cancelling headphones are worth their weight in gold along with a weighted eye mask and ear plugs.
I download loads of things but Audible, Netflix and Sky Go help pass the time when you can't concentrate on doing anything. I hope it all goes well. x

Absolutely nothing scented. You may be near patients or staff with serious fragrance allergies.

A flexible arm thing that will clamp to anything and hold your device

headphones

powerbank for when you aren’t near an outlet

slip on, waterproof shoes. Much better than slippers in hospital. You can use socks to keep warm, but you want something that can take a quick wash in the sink for walking around just in case they have a run in with bodily fluids.

A fluffy warm blanket
a nice familiar pillow.
decent eye mask/ ear plugs / sound reducing headphones. ( can you tell I spent 2 weeks in hospital last year and could not sleep due to the noise / distressed elderly people who screamed all night) 😫
a long charger
ipad
mints
dressing gown
slippers
snacks

a cuddly toy from my kids ( they weren’t allowed to visit)

I had my partner visiting each day and I was in hospital 2 weeks. It be was a horrible time and I was in pain but these things made it that bit easier.
xx

Lots already mentioned but I’d add your kindle loaded with lots of books, more than you think you’ll need. A small mirror, tweezers & if you’re prone to the bane of chin hair one of those small, lipstick shaped battery shaver things ( that don’t like to be called shavers but really just are) Some fruit sweets to suck, the warm dry air can make your mouth very dry.

Hand cream.
Nail file.
Wet wipes.
Warm fluffy bed socks.
Mirror.
Hairdryer .
Water bottle flask ( water in jugs go warm quickly).
Extension lead.
Sleep eye mask.
Snacks.
( I spent most of last year in and out of hospital .. between a week and three months ) . My daughter would take my night wear / pants/ towels home every day to wash and fetch clean ones

Long cabled phone charger! Lip balm Xxx

Soap, hand gel, anti-bac wipes, etc. Infections are rife in hospitals so you need to keep wiping down the chair, table, locker, handset, etc.

I found a soft neck pillow, the kind you travel.with, really helpful. I like a feather pillow at home because I can squish it to the shape I want but you can't do that with hospital pillows. The neck pillow enabled me to have support where I wanted it.

No, you’re not meant to but in reality nobody bats an eyelid. DD had major surgery last year and we brought one in as 2 plugs between me and a teenager for a week just wouldn’t have been enough. I am an AHP and have never been in a cold hospital either until this one - it was like walking into a fridge!! Always better to be prepared for all eventualities…

These lists are getting more ridiculous by the day.Facade1983, I am with you on this one. Maybe you were staff like me. Patients watching films, making phone calls, you need to administer drugs, do proceedures. Patient "oh, I won't be a minute, just Finishing this phone call,etc". 2 weeks is hardly a "long stay". Whenever I have been a patient, I have been too ill to worry about anything other than getting some rest. My last post, patients would certainly be informed they couldn't use their own hairdryer. I noticed in my last visit to a local hospital,you pay to charge your mobile phone.

What about risk of charging leads, extensions getting in the way. It's difficult enough with the wires essential to the patient.

@Nannyfannybanny

These lists are getting more ridiculous by the day

No, what is ridiculous is medical staff expecting patients to vegetate for days on end, probably catching one infection after another, with nothing to do but pay for the "entertainment" the hospital deem to provide, i.e. pay tv.

Nothing wrong at all with patients (those who are capable anyway) having as normal an existence as possible which includes access to iphones, ipads, laptops, books, plus some "home comforts" like their own shampoo, toiletries, etc.

Why should a patient spend 23 hours a day with nothing just for the odd hour a day in total when the staff may deem them worthy of a bit of attention in the form of observations etc.

Hospitals exist for the benefit of the patients, not the benefit of the staff!!!

I was not told to use my own hairdryer, in fact it was encouraged to by caring, enlightened staff who recognised there are more ways for patients to feel better in hospital than just the medical treatment they are receiving.

Sorry, that should say was not told I couldn't use my own hairdryer.

You are in hospital for medical or surgery intervention,it's not a holiday camp. We try to make it reasonably comfortable, there is a limit

Yes, and staff exit for the benefit of the patients. So, not allowed to leave the drugs on the table,nah it's ok I will rush back when you're Finnished watching the film

Yes Nannyfannybanny, I was hospital staff - not a nurse, but working in an area where I saw the daily complaints from patients that the hospital had lost or broken their valuables. So I was really trying to give the OP the best advice I could.

Take a few second hand paperbacks from the charity shop if you want something to divert you, but I'd advise you to leave your ipad etc at home.

Don't bring in too much as there will be nowhere to store it & bags of stuff spilling into other patients space is a nuisance to them & the staff (especially cleaning staff)
Had a woman next to me once who turned up with a large suitcase. She had facemasks etc it was entertaining for the nurses anyway 😂 she didn't look happy when she found out the only bathroom was also the shower & loo for 6 other sick women.
Don't bring in anything valuable because its likely to get kicked, list or broken & label absolutely everything.
Just a small amount of stuff & regular visitors works best.
Phone charger, eye mask, ear plugs, headphones, baby wipes, small amount of cash (if staff go down to shop for you they can't take your card)

Wow, I am super glad I wasn't on your ward. I was indeed having a intervention for something relating to the terminal cancer I am suffering from and I am glad to say everyone who looked after me was understanding of what helps patients to feel better. I was I think a considerate patient, would never have dreamed of keeping anyone waiting to give me meds or do my obs and once I was ambulant would always check it was a good time to have a shower.

Grippy bed socks, something like Totes

baby-wipes, antiseptic gel, moisturiser, dry shampoo, lip balm, hand cream, a big water bottle, slippers, flipflops, changes of PJs, warm and cool dressing gowns depending on the temperature of the ward. I'd take easy to read books like crime thrillers or good memoirs, make up and a hand mirror, healthy snacks, interdental brushes and sugar free mints in case you can't get to clean your teeth for a day or two

A fleece blanket, own pillows the hospital ones are terrible juice, snacks, chargers and extra long cables, word search reading book your own coffee/tea/hot chocolate and mug the coffee in the hospital I was in for best part of first 6 months of last year ( several admissions) was awful.