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NHS Hospital Appointments and Stays

Older couple at doctors

No one likes going into hospital but, unfortunately, most of us will have to at some point. Being in an unfamiliar environment while having to cope with illness or the uncertainty of diagnosis can be difficult for you and those close to you. However, it is less likely to be stressful if you know what to expect.

Our NHS Hospital Appointments and Stays guide covers NHS hospital treatment in Scotland, from your intial referral and being a hospital patient, to leaving hospital and returning home. It also explains how a longer stay in hospital might affect your benefits.

For information about discharge assessment and planning, see our Hospital Discharge in Scotland guide. 

You can also order paper copies of our guides

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