Hospital Bag List

fluffymuffy

Hope this is the right forum.

I was recently in hospital, taken there at short notice when a chronic condition worsened. After a day or so I really missed all the things I'd failed to pack, and I didn't have the charger for my Kindle, which died on me. I got cold in the night and would have loved my fleecy blanket, or fluffy dressing gown. And the hospital bathroom had no mirror so I was never sure if I had spinach between my teeth.

Chances are that I'll be back there in the future, so I thought I'd make a list ready for a quick pack.  So far - 

Mirror
Fleecy blanket
Towel
Shower gel
shampoo
comb
toothbrush & paste
a real book (a long one, but nothing too challenging)
ear plugs 
PJs
slippers
rich tea biscuits in a plastic box
phone & charger
purse with £20 in change

& ?

Suggestions welcome.

cheerfulcat

I’d add

• moisturiser
• lip balm
• another book
• notebook and pen
• earphones for listening to podcasts/music
• iPad/kindle and charger

Robin9

The hospital will say no to the fleecy blanket on hygiene grounds - very surprised not to have a mirror in the bathroom.  I had two spells in hospital last year - one NHS, other  BUPAS both provided towels, shower gel and shampoo.  Both had a nver ending supply of biscuits.

Leave valuables - rings etc and cash at home -  credit card is useful for the TV

fluffymuffy

Robin9 said:

The hospital will say no to the fleecy blanket on hygiene grounds 

That's worth knowing. I'll put fluffy dressing gown on the list instead.

thegreenone

I thought things had to be PAT tested by hospital electricians before they can be plugged in?Perhaps a solar charger or power bank of some sort?
  
If it's the summer, perhaps a small battery operated fan with extra batteries!  

fluffymuffy

I was in hospital recently and no one told me not to charge my phone. In fact, I recall another patient leaving being asked to make sure they hadn't left a charger behind, because it seems that they are often forgotten. 

I was wondering about this too, but I guess it saves the nursing staff a lot of time if people can just use their own phones.

There was one lady on my ward who spent the entire time on speaker phone to friends and family. 

Debran

Additional items from my list:

Nightdress/pyjamas

Briefs

Face flannels

Deodorant

Wet wipes

Tissues

Emery board

Reading glasses

Pillow

Been in hospital quite a few times - pillow has never been turned away yet.  Of course, I realise that it will all depend on the hospital but I find many are always short of pillows.

Store the list on your computer.  That way you can add to and amend the list for next time you go in.

ZaSa1418

I would 100% take an eye mask for sleep 

Archergirl

A bigger case? Hope you don't need it though xx

Savvy_Sue

Archergirl said:

A bigger case? Hope you don't need it though xx

That is something which bears consideration: most hospitals have VERY limited space and really can't cope with a suitcase at all, so a holdall which collapses in on itself would be worth considering, as they may not allow anyone onto the ward with you, so no-one to take a case home with them. 

For me, the key thing would be to have nice things in my bag, so when I had a planned hospital stay some years ago, I bought new sponge bag, flannels, PJs, slippers etc, all in my favourite pink, which I no longer seem able to show you in this post. 

I'm still using most of them, and I developed the habit of keeping a sponge bag packed, with a spare toothbrush (and if you use an electric one, you might want to take a charger for it!), which meant I could just 'grab and go' when I was making regular visits to my parents. 

Either as well as or instead of the fluffy dressing gown, a large shawl or wrap might be good - I'd find a dressing gown too much if I was sitting up in bed, but might be glad of the wrap. Or there's always the good old-fashioned bed jacket, or a cardigan which packs down small. 

If you were expecting to be in a few days, it might be worth having 'grab and swap' bags if you have a regular visitor. So clean undies, maybe socks if you get cold feet, couple of sets in a plastic bag: visitor brings clean, takes away laundry, rinse and repeat. All to help with the space issue, plus the desire not to have a festering pile of dirty washing in my locker ... 

peb

Power Bank.
Savoury biscuits 

I also took tinned tuna (the little ones) to add to salad and tinned fruit.