How to prepare for a hospital stay

The paperwork to gather

Keep everything in one folder: it speeds up admission and stops you forgetting an essential document.

• ID and your health insurance details (and any supplementary cover).
• The admission letter and the name of the ward, if you have them.
• An up-to-date list of your medicines (name, dose, timing).
• Your latest test results and relevant reports.
• Your contact details and those of a next of kin / trusted person.

The bag: what to pack (and what to leave)

Favour the essentials and comfort. Leave valuables at home.

• Toiletries, towel, slippers, loose clothing, nightwear.
• Phone charger (long cable), earplugs, something to read.
• Your usual medicines in their original boxes (hand them to the team).
• Avoid: jewellery, large sums of cash, precious items.

Questions to ask beforehand

Asking these ahead of time lets you arrive informed and consent more confidently.

• Do I need to fast, and from what time?
• Which medicines should I stop or continue before admission?
• Roughly how long will the stay last?
• How does discharge work, and will I need help once home?
• Who do I contact if I have a question the day before?

Understanding consent

Before a procedure, the team explains what will happen, the expected benefits and the risks. Informed consent is a right: you can ask for details, time to think, or decline.

Do not hesitate to have anything you did not understand rephrased, and to name in writing a trusted person who can support you in decisions.

Plan discharge from day one

Discharge should be anticipated: transport home, prescriptions, any sick note, home care (nurse, physiotherapy), and above all the warning signs that should prompt you to seek care again.

Parato helps you prepare your list of questions, keep your medicines and documents in one place, and hold on to your discharge summary — without replacing your care team's instructions. For an emergency before the stay, call your country's emergency number.