In short: An NHS hospital's what-to-bring list is a good base for a ready-packed bag: your admission letter if you have one, GP name and address, full postcode, current medicines, details of carers or social workers, nightwear, slippers, toiletries and mobility aids. The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust asks patients to leave valuables at home.
Key facts
- The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust says patients must bring their admission letter, their GP's name and address, their full postcode, any medication they currently take, and details of any community services they use, such as social workers or carers. Source
- The same trust suggests comfortable daytime clothes and nightwear, slippers, toiletries, a flannel and towel, and mobility aids if needed. Source
- It asks patients to leave valuables such as jewellery, credit cards and large amounts of money at home, and to bring only items they really need because space is limited. Source
- Lions Clubs British Isles says that if someone with a Message in a Bottle goes to hospital, the form goes with them and is handed to staff on arrival. Source
Want this written down for your home? Care & Support Emergency Plan — printable, £4.99.
When an older parent is taken into hospital without warning, families often spend the first evening driving back and forth for glasses, slippers and a list of medicines. A small bag packed in advance takes that pressure off. This checklist is based on the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust's what-to-bring page, plus a few common-sense extras for older people. It sits with our household plan guides.
Every hospital has its own list, so check the admitting hospital's page if you know which one it will be.
The papers: what the hospital needs to know
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust says patients must bring:
- the admission letter (for a planned stay)
- their GP's name and address
- their full postcode
- any medication they currently take
- details of any community services they use, such as social workers or carers
For a sudden admission there will be no letter, so the rest matters more. Keep a single sheet in the bag with your parent's name, date of birth, GP, pharmacy, allergies, a list of medicines and next of kin. If your parent has a Message in a Bottle, Lions says the form goes with them to hospital and is handed to staff on arrival.
The comfort items
The same NHS trust suggests:
- comfortable daytime clothes and nightwear
- slippers
- toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and shaving kit
- a flannel and towel
- mobility aids, such as a walking stick or frame, if needed
Extras many families find useful: glasses and their case, hearing aid batteries, a denture pot, a phone charger with a long lead, a notepad and pen, and something to read.
What to leave at home
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust asks patients to bring only what they really need, because space is limited, and to leave at home:
- valuables, such as jewellery, credit cards and large amounts of money
- alcohol and tobacco products
- portable televisions or radios
The ready-packed bag checklist
- One-page sheet: name, date of birth, GP, pharmacy, allergies, next of kin
- Current medicines in their original boxes, plus a written list
- Details of carers, social workers or other services
- Nightwear and a change of daytime clothes
- Non-slip slippers
- Toiletries, flannel and towel
- Glasses, hearing aid batteries, denture pot
- Phone charger with a long lead
- A little cash for small things, but no valuables
- Note on the bag: "Add medicines from the kitchen cupboard"
Keep the bag somewhere everyone knows, such as the bottom of the wardrobe or by the front door. Check it every six months, and update the medicine list whenever a prescription changes.
Who keeps the plan
A packed bag works best with a short written plan: who goes with your parent, who looks after a partner or pet at home, and who tells the rest of the family. Our guide for older people and carers covers this, and our important documents checklist helps with the paperwork.
Limitations
This page is based on one NHS trust's what-to-bring list and general tips. Each hospital has its own rules, so check the admitting hospital's page or letter. It is not medical advice. In an emergency, call 999.
Turn this guide into a written plan
Reading helps. Writing it down is what makes it work when the phones are flat. Start with the free plan builder, or get the full printable version:
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Frequently asked questions
What should an elderly person take to hospital?
NHS hospital lists include current medicines, GP name and address, full postcode, details of carers or social workers, nightwear, slippers, toiletries and any mobility aids. Check the admitting hospital's own page too, as lists vary.
Should I take my parent's medicines to hospital?
Yes. The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust asks patients to bring any medication they currently take. It also helps to bring a written list.
What should we leave at home?
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust asks patients to leave valuables such as jewellery, credit cards and large amounts of money at home.
Sources
- The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust: What to bring (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- Lions Clubs British Isles: Message in a Bottle, How it works (checked 30 Oct 2026)