What may happen if I have to go into hospital with coronavirus? | Mencap

What may happen if I have to go into hospital with coronavirus?

A man smiling at the camera with coronavirus germs around his body

Some people who have coronavirus do not know they have coronavirus.

They feel well, or feel as if they have a cold.

The head and shoulders of a man who is coughing into his hand with coronavirus germs around his head

Some people who have coronavirus feel poorly.

A woman with her hand on her forehead, another woman who is coughing into her hand, and a man with very red cheeks who is holding his throat

People who have coronavirus may:

have a high temperature
have a cough
lose of have a change in their sense of smell or taste.

An open diary showing the 7 days of the week

Most people who have coronavirus will self-isolate at home and will start to feel better after a few days.

The outside of a large hospital building with an ambulance outside the door.

If you have to go to hospital it will be because you need more help to get better.

A NHS111 telephone call between two people in front of a hospital building

If you have coronavirus you might have to go to hospital if:

you are finding it very hard to breathe.
a doctor or NHS111 has told you to go to hospital.

A man with a wheelie suitcase in front of a hospital building

If you have to go to hospital you will need to take some things with you.

Pyjamas, soap and a crossword puzzle with a pen

You should take:

toiletries like deodorant, soap, shower gel and moisturiser
clean pyjamas or a nightdress, and your dressing gown and slippers
things that will keep you busy when you feel better, like books, magazines, music or puzzles
any medication that you take each day

A mobile phone

Remember to take your mobile phone and charger if you might want to use them.

A drawing of a green shield with the coronavirus germs around it

If you have to go to hospital because of coronavirus, the doctors and nurses will have to take special care to make sure that other people do not catch the virus.

Two nurses wearing aprons, gloves and face coverings

They will wear Personal Protective Equipment like glasses, aprons, gloves and face masks.

Two people standing either side of a yellow shield which has coronavirus germs

This is to keep you and other people safe.

A hospital bed and equipment in a hospital ward

You might be in a ward with other people that have coronavirus, or in a room on your own.

A man in a hospital bed

You might see other people in hospital who are not very well.

A man in a hospital bed looking very poorly and wearing an oxygen mask to help him breathe

You might feel very poorly when you are in hospital.

A doctor in a hospital with his thumbs up next to some medical equipment

If you are finding it hard to breathe, people at the hospital will have equipment to help you.

A man lying down in a hospital bed wearing an oxygen mask

you might need to wear a mask on your face to give you oxygen.

A photograph of a hospital ventilator machine

You might need a special machine called a ventilator to help you breathe.

Two people pointing at a box of tablets

People at the hospital will be able to give you the right medicines and treatment that you need.

A man sitting up in a hospital bed

When you start to get better, you will not need the masks or ventilator.

A crossword puzzle and a pen

You might want to use the things you brought with you like puzzles, music and books.

Two mobile phones. The white phone shows a video of a girl talking and the black phone shows a picture of a woman listening

If you have a phone you can call family and friends.

A nurse talking to a smiling friend of a man who is in a hospital bed behind them listening to their conversation

It is good to have 1 person that knows how you are and what the hospital is doing to help you get better.

A support worker holding the arm of a man

This could be a family member or a support worker .

A woman on the phone in the foreground. Behind her is a group of people at a table huddled around a laptop listening to her call.

This person will be able to let everyone know what is happening while you are in hospital.

A man in a hospital bed with a visitor. The visitor has a red cross over her picture.

You might not be allowed visitors at the hospital.

A woman visiting a man in a hospital bed

You might be allowed to have 1 person who can visit you like a family member of a support worker.

A photograph of a woman next to a photograph of the same woman wearing a face mask, gloves and an apron

Visitors might have to wear glasses, aprons. gloves and face masks.

Two people standing either side of a yellow shield with coronavirus germs

This is to help keep you and other people safe.

a laptop showing a screen which says 'Click'

For more information about going in to hospital with coronavirus, or visiting someone in hospital who has coronavirus, visit our website.