Being an informal patient – for 11-18 year olds

What should I take into hospital?

You might go into hospital straight away, or you might be able to visit the hospital ward first. This will depend on how quickly your care team think you need to get treatment and support.

If you're not sure what to pack, you could think about what you would take on a trip away.

You could take:

• Comfy clothes – you might need to take the strings out of hoodies or joggers
• Pyjamas
• Flip flops or sliders
• Books and magazines
• Toiletries and tooth brush
• Tampons or sanitary towels
• Pens and notepads without spiral binding
• Duvet cover and pillow cases
• Photos of family, friends, or partners
• A teddy bear or cuddly toy
• Something to keep you busy, like cards, a tablet or games console
• Something to listen to, like music
• Lists of important phone numbers, in case you can't use your phone
• Medication from your doctor, which you might need to give this to the hospital to look after

What am I not allowed to bring into hospital?

Different wards will have their own rules about what you can and can't bring with you.

Usually you won't be able to bring anything that could be used to harm yourself or someone else. For example, you might not be able to bring glass bottles like nail varnish, perfume or aftershave.

There are some things that you probably won't be able take onto the ward, like: 

• Alcohol
• Illegal drugs
• Medication that's not from your doctor
• Cigarettes or vapes
• Anything with a sharp blade, like a razor

If you're not sure whether you can bring something, you can always call ahead and ask. Staff might be able to suggest other options for you. For example, you could bring roll on deodorant instead of spray, or wax strips instead of razors.

Will I have to follow rules when I'm in hospital?

Hospitals have rules about what you can and can't do on the ward, and you'll be expected to follow them.

For example, there will be rules around what time meals are, what you're allowed to bring onto the ward, and how you should behave.

‘Blanket restrictions’ are rules that limit the freedom of all patients without looking at the needs of individuals. For example, your hospital saying that everyone is only allowed 1 hour of leave a week, or that no one can use social media.

Hospitals aren't allowed to use blanket restrictions, unless they are necessary. 

What are my rights when I'm in hospital?

It's important to understand what your rights are so you can make sure you're being treated fairly, and that you're getting all the things you need.

A lot of these rights will be the same when you're sectioned. To find out what's different, see our information on being sectioned.

Your right to carry on with your studies

Your ward should speak to your school to find out what you're studying. This will help them to give you work similar to what you'd normally be doing in school.

You will be asked to do as much work as you can, as long as you're feeling well enough.

If you're 16 or 17 years old, you also have a right to training if you'd like this.

Your right to stay in touch with family and friends

You have the right to stay in touch with your family and friends while you're in hospital. You should be able to do this in different ways, such as having visitors, making phone calls or texting.

When visitors come to see you, the hospital should provide an area for you to spend time with them, like a visitor's room. They probably won't be allowed to visit you in your bedroom.

Sometimes you may not want to see someone who comes to visit you, and that's okay – staff should always ask you first.

In some situations, you might be placed a long way from home. This is sometimes called an ‘out of area placement’. If your family are struggling with travel costs, they can ask for some support. Ask your care team for more information.

Most hospitals have visiting hours and will encourage family and friends to visit you as they know how important it is for your mental wellbeing!

Your right to be on a ward with people your own age

You should be put on a ward for under 18s straightaway.

But if you're 16 or 17, there are some situations where you could be put on an adult ward.

This might happen if you need to go into hospital quickly and there are no beds on the young people's ward.

Or it might happen if being on an adult ward is better for you. For example, if you're about to turn 18 and don't want to change wards when this happens, or if you have a baby.

Your right to have privacy

Your privacy should be respected while you're in hospital.

But if your care team are worried about the safety of you or someone else, you may have less privacy.

This might mean they check on you more often, or it could mean they need to watch you all the time. If this happens, you must still be treated with respect and be listened to by your care team.

You should always be allowed to:

• Wash and dress in private
• See your visitors in private
• Send emails, text messages or get post without it being read by staff

Hospitals are designed to be a safe space, not a prison, so although it might feel enclosed at times, remember it won't be forever and staff want what's best for you!

Your right to have some internet and phone access

You should be able to have some access to your phone, social media and the internet while you're on the ward. But there might be some places you're not allowed to use your phone.

There may also be times when you're not allowed to use your phone at all. For example, if your care team are worried that it's affecting your mental health. If they do take your phone away from you, this must be for a short time, and it should be kept somewhere safe.

Your right to keep your information confidential

When you're in hospital, you have a right to your personal information being kept confidential. This means that everything you say will normally be kept between you and your care team.

Your hospital should have a policy explaining the rules they have to follow. Usually they'll only share what you've told them if:

• You want them to share it
• It will help you to get good care
• If they're worried that you or someone else could be in danger

If they do need to tell someone else what you've told them, they should always try to tell you first.

Your right to have leave from the ward

You'll be expected to spend most of your time on the ward, but you should be able to have some time away. This is called having leave. If you're sectioned,  you might also hear this called section 17 leave.

Even when you're not on leave, your ward will also have an outdoor area where you can get some fresh air.

How does getting leave work?

If you want to go on leave, you should ask a nurse or doctor. They will need to think about whether it's safe for you to have time away from the ward. The might also need to check with your parent or carer.

At first your care team might only want you to leave the ward for a short time and you might need to go with someone. Over time, your leave should build up, and you might be able to leave the ward overnight.

If your care team are worried about you, they might ask you to stop going on leave for a while. It's important to remember that this will only be temporary.

What if I'm not happy with how I'm being treated?

If you feel like you're not being treated fairly or getting the support you need, speak to a member of your care team and explain how you're feeling.

If you don't feel confident to do this on your own, you could ask a trusted adult or an advocate for help. An advocate is someone who can listen to you and help make sure your voice is heard.

Advocates in Wales

Everyone on the ward has the right to an advocate, which is also called an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA).

Advocates in England

Only people who've been sectioned have a right to an IMHA, but some wards have advocates that informal patients can use too.

If you're not sure whether there's an advocate you can speak to, you should ask someone in your care team.

Making a complaint

If you still feel like you're not being treated fairly or you're unhappy about something that's happening on the ward, you can make a complaint.

You can ask the hospital about how to do this, and who you should make the complaint to.

Making a complaint can be a hard process to go through, especially when you're not feeling well. It can help to ask a trusted adult to help you, or see if there is an advocacy service on your ward. They can help you write down what you're worried about and what you want to happen.

You should try to make your complaint as soon as possible. Usually the time limit is 12 months from when the event happened or the problem started.

On my first week on the ward, I met with an advocate who explained her role to me. This advocate visited every week if anyone wanted to talk to her.