The Government has set out new guidance on the steps that need to be taken when discharging someone who’s been in hospital with COVID-19.

We set out what you should expect to happen if you or someone you support has been in hospital with COVID-19. This includes what measures need to be taken to stop the spread of the virus. Below we have broken down these for different circumstances you or the person you support might find yourself in. 

Discharging people back home

If you or the person you support is being discharged back into your/their own home, this is what you should be aware of:

• You should have received advice for what to do if their symptoms get worse again.
• Follow the Stay at Home guidance
• Follow the self-isolation guidance until you/they haven’t had a fever for 48 hours without medicine.

What happens if you/the person you support is being discharged into your home?

• If it hasn’t been 14 days since you or the person you support had a positive test when you go home, you should make sure to self-isolate for 14 days.
• Healthcare professionals should give you advice on how to stop the spread of the virus if anyone in your household is vulnerable to getting really ill from COVID-19.
• If an extremely clinically vulnerable person – also known as someone who’s ‘shielding’ lives with you or the person you support – health professionals will advise you/the person you support to be discharged to a different home for the time they need to self-isolate.

What should happen if you/the person you support is being discharged into a care home?

• You or the person you support should have been tested for COVID-19 48 hours before leaving hospital. The care home must know the result of this test so they know how to support you.
• You or the person you support will need to isolate in the care home for 14 days following a positive test. If they still have a fever they should continue isolating until their fever has disappeared for 48 hours without needing medication.
• You or the person you support might still have a cough and a reduced sense of taste and smell when they’re discharged, but that this doesn’t mean you/they still have the virus.
• When you or the person you support has finished isolating, care workers can go back to their regular measures for supporting people during the coronavirus outbreak. The Government is currently updating the guidance on supporting people in residential care, but we will update this once it’s been published

What to do if symptoms get worse again?

• If you or the person you support has been discharged, and your health gets worse again, make sure you get advice from NHS 111 online or over the phone.

What we’re doing

We’re telling the Government about your experiences of lockdown, so they know what life is like for autistic people and their families. If you want to share your experiences and any worries or concerns you have, do get in touch with us at stories@nas.org.uk.