The 10 things you really need to pack for an overnight hospital stay, according to an NHS patient of 20 years

Hollie Carlin Photography

Tilly Rose

Staying overnight in hospital can be a daunting experience, not only are you concerned about your health, but you also face time away from your own bed, sleeping in an unfamiliar place. One person who knows exactly how that feels is Tilly Rose, who has spent the past 20 years in and out of hospital as a ‘medical mystery’ patient. She has since written a book, Be Patient, about her experience and has plenty of tips about exactly what to pack if you’re facing a stay in hospital, to make the experience as comfortable as it can be.

What to pack for an overnight hospital stay

While every adult hospital and even ward can differ in terms of the facilities available, Tilly has recommended 10 items which are smart additions to your case, and shouldn’t be an issue for the majority of facilities.

Towels

One thing you might not think to take with you, is a towel. While hospitals will usually provide them, a fluffy towel from home is likely to be more comfortable and, as Tilly found, sometimes towel supplies can be disrupted.

A pillow

We all have our particular ways of sleeping ,and keeping some form of familiarity and comfort can really help if you’re staying in hospital. Tilly recommends bringing your favourite pillow: ‘I've always been allowed to have my own there. Sometimes I've got my own blanket as well, and that's purely just been for comfort.’

Earplugs or headphones

Even if you’re not a light sleeper, the noise disruption of a normal night on the ward could well mean you’re woken up. Earplugs can help block out the noise or a pair of headphones could be an option to play white noise, your favourite podcast or whatever else might help you get off to sleep.

‘It can be absolute chaos through the night,’ warns Tilly. “There are machines going off, monitors beeping and staff coming in and out to check on patients. Sometimes, it’s the patients themselves as someone in the bed opposite might decide 5am is the perfect time to call their boyfriend.’

Eye masks

With beeping machines and monitors, comes blinking and flashing machines and monitors. Tilly also says that staff also often turn on the lights by the patients’ beds if they need to check on them and, while the main lights may stay off, it can still be distracting. For these reasons, she says an eye-mask is a must.

Essential oil

Perhaps the most surprising item Tilly recommends packing, is an essential oil, perfume or anything that smells nice (not scented candles or incense, as these can’t be lit on the wards). ‘Whilst the curtain might block out what you see, it does not block out what you smell. I often dab my essential oil onto a tissue and sleep with it on my pillow to freshen things up.’

Pyjamas

Of course, a pair of pyjamas are a must if you’re planning to stay overnight in hospital, while comfortable loungewear is ideal for the day. As temperatures on wards can vary, a selection of options is best.

‘Sometimes you could be on an air-conditioned ward and it's freezing cold, or the windows are left open at night. Equally, I’ve been on wards where it's boiling hot in summer and it's glass windows all around you,’ says Tilly. ‘So, I’d say take a selection. I normally bring shorts, t-shirt, a jumper, some leggings, loungewear and a jumper.’

List of medications and medical history

If you are staying in hospital for a prolonged period, you’ll likely be seen by a variety of different doctors, nurses and other medical staff who will ask a lot of the same questions. That’s why Tilly recommends having a notebook or printed list of your current medications as well as bullet points of your medical history to hand. Then you can simply pass it to each staff member so they can see your background at a glance.

‘Sometimes you don't know the brand names of your medication, or if you’re taking a lot it can be really hard to remember them all. So just writing or typing all that up before you go in and having it on your side table means you don't waste your one-on-one time going over the basics. Writing some bullet points about why you're there and what happened before will also be a huge help.’

Entertainment

Without your usual routine, days at hospital can feel monotonous, so any type of distraction is great. ‘Bring laptops, iPads, your phone, magazines, books - anything like that,’ advises Tilly. While many wards will have personal televisions, the content is often provided at a fee depending on the time of day. Tilly said that in her experience hospital WIFI has been strong enough for her to stream shows on a personal device.

Baby wipes

Of course, hospitals will have bathrooms and showering facilities, but you might not be as mobile as usual. ‘Depending on your treatment, it can be difficult to have a proper shower,’ says Tilly. ‘Face wipes or baby wipes can really save you. I’ve relied on make up wipes and dry shampoo to feel more like myself in hospital.’

Photographs

Hospital wards can be impersonal places, but there are ways to make them feel more welcoming during your stay. Photographs, for example, could have benefits beyond aesthetics. ‘I keep a photo of me with some friends on my side table, which reminds me of life outside the hospital window,’ says Tilly. ‘It also reminds staff that you’re not just another patient in a bed, but a person with a life you’re trying to get back to. I find it helps create more of an emotional connection.’