It is useful to know what standards you should expect when you go into hospital. There are a number of publications that have been produced to inform you. A list of publications and where to obtain them is provided below.

Guidance on the Care of Older People

The Nursing & Midwifery Council has produced guidance on the care of older people. There is a guidance document that is specifically for nurses, and their is a leafet for members of the public.

General Medical Council Guidance on Confidentiality

The General Medical Council has published new guidance on conficdentiality. It sets out the principles of confidentiality and respect for patients' privacy that doctors are expected to understand and follow.

Fundamentals of Care

The Welsh Assembly Government has produced a document to guide health and social care staff. It is aimed at improving the quality of aspects of health and social care for adults. Welsh hospitals are currently undertaking an audit of the fundamentals of care. The English equivalent in Essence of Care .

Helping you through a hospital stay

Helping you through a hospital stay helps older people to understand and manage the feelings, anxieties and concerns they may have when they are entering or leaving hospital. It suggests how they can be involved in their treatment and care, and in planning for return home.

The booklet has been written and developed with the input of an advisory group of older people who have firsthand experience of going into hospital

The Dr Foster hospital guide 2009: how safe is your hospital? (England)

This independent guide to NHS hospital quality focuses this year on patient safety. Dr Foster has given each NHS hospital a patient safety score that the public can use to identify the highest achieving hospitals. There is also more information about hospital mortality rates, top tips for identifying what makes a safe hospital, how hospitals can save money by improving patient safety and the best hospital trusts of 2009.