Hello, So sorry for the delay in replying, but I have only just seen your message; and thank you for your kind words.
Once the award was agreed , the DWP acknowledged this within a few days, via a telephone call, which only asked whether the original bank account details we had given at the beginning of the process were the same. There was no mention of any hospital stays. The back pay was then put into the account (as the process had taken over a year) within a few days and the formal paperwork confirming the award followed.
I hope this is helpful.
Warm wishes.