Depending on your situation and the support available, it may be possible for you to choose to stay at home rather than go to hospital.
But first please read the information below and discuss with a trusted healthcare professional to help you make an informed decision.
If you are not yet unwell with COVID-19, but want to plan ahead and avoid going to hospital if you do get sick…
If you think you’d rather be cared for at home if you get seriously ill with COVID-19, you should discuss this with your GP or the healthcare professional that knows you best. It may be possible to do this by phone or video. Local healthcare professionals can listen to your thoughts and preferences,and provide you with more information about realistic options that might be available for you. Your wishes can be recorded in an Anticipatory Care Plan. Further information about planning ahead in this way is available here: Anticipatory Care Planning
If you are already ill with COVID-19, but don’t want to be taken to hospital even if you get critically ill…
First, check out NHS Inform self-help guide which provides information about when to use self-care, and when to seek medical help: NHS Inform self-help guide.
If you do not want to go to hospital, it is still important that you access the support of your GP and NHS community team – there are care and medications that can be provided in the home that can help to keep you as comfortable as possible.
If you have strong views, it is important that these are discussed with the people you care about, and with your GP or other relevant healthcare professional, and recorded in an Anticipatory Care Plan. You can learn more about Anticipatory Care Planning here: Anticipatory Care Planning
Photo by Javier Allegue Barros on Unsplash
