What to bring to a hospital admission - a checklist

Whether it’s planned or an emergency, being admitted to hospital is stressful - and it’s hard to think clearly about what to bring when you’re anxious or unwell. I’ve been admitted more times than I’d like to count, and I’ve learned that a little preparation makes the whole thing less overwhelming.

Here’s a checklist you can work from. If your admission is planned, pack ahead of time. If emergencies are a possibility for you, it’s worth keeping a bag half-ready.

The information that matters most

This is the part people forget, and it’s the most important. Staff need to know your medical situation quickly, especially in an emergency:

• A current medication list - names, doses, and how often you take each.
• Your diagnoses and any relevant medical history.
• Allergies and past reactions to medications.
• Your regular doctors’ details - GP and specialists.
• Emergency contact details for someone who can speak for you.
• Any advance care wishes, if you have them.

If this lives somewhere you can pull up instantly - your phone, a printout - you save yourself trying to recite it while you’re unwell.

Practical things to pack

• Comfortable clothes and something to sleep in.
• Toiletries - toothbrush, deodorant, whatever makes you feel human.
• Phone and charger (a long cable helps - the powerpoint is never close to the bed).
• Glasses, hearing aids, or anything else you rely on.
• A small amount of money or a card.
• Your own medications in their original packaging, if you’re told to bring them.

Comfort things that make a real difference

Hospitals are boring, bright, and noisy. A few small things help:

• Earplugs and an eye mask for sleeping.
• Headphones and something to read, watch, or listen to.
• Your own pillow or a blanket from home, if you can.
• Lip balm and hand cream - hospital air is brutally dry.

Have your details ready before you need them

The hardest admissions are the emergency ones, because there’s no time to prepare and you may not be in a state to explain yourself clearly. That’s the scenario worth planning for.

Having your medications, diagnoses, and key contacts already written down - somewhere you or a family member can open in seconds - takes a huge amount of pressure off at the worst possible moment. That’s one of the reasons I built Relentless: a private place to keep your whole health picture together, so that when you’re admitted, the information walks in with you.