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The discharge process

Planning for discharge

Planning for a patient's discharge should take place at the earliest opportunity. You and the patient should be involved at all stages of planning for discharge. Hospital and social care staff should work together to manage all parts of the discharge process. This is to ensure that the patient is suitably cared for after they have left hospital and not at risk of being unable to cope.

You should be given an opportunity to talk about your needs as a carer and what help you may need to look after the patient.  It is your legal right to have your needs addressed and this is achieved by having acarer's assessment.

Before the patient leaves hospital the following should also happen:

• You and the patient should expect to be given both verbal and written information, with contact details and any relevant information about future treatment and care. The information should be available in a language suitable for you, large print or Braille.
• A 'discharge co-ordinator' (or ward care coordinator) should be available to coordinate the planning process and act as a key person for you to contact to find out about the discharge plans.
• In situations where a patient does not want you to be involved or have information about their care, you should be informed of this and advised of your own right to an assessment.
• If the patient lacks mental capacity you may be able to make certain decisions about health and welfare matters if you have aLasting Power of Attorney (LPA) dealing with health and welfare matters. If there is no LPA the law requires professionals to act in the patient's 'best interests' and you should be involved in the decision making process.

The discharge procedure

In most cases patients need some support from the NHS or social services after discharge. If this is your situation the discharge procedure is as follows:

• An assessment for NHS continuing care should be carried out where it appears there may be a need for such care. This is an assessment to establish whether the NHS should continue to fund care after discharge from hospital. This care is provided free of charge. To qualify for NHS continuing care a person leaving hospital must have a 'primary health need', a need for nursing or other health services which are not just incidental or ancillary to services which the local authority could be expected to provide. Your view of the patient's needs should be included when the multi-disciplinary team assesses eligibility for continuing care. If continuing care is offered, it could be provided in someone's own home or in various types of residential care, such as a residential or nursing home.
• The patient and carer should be consulted about whether or not to involve social services.
• Social services are then notified if assessments are required.
• Both patient and carer's assessments are carried out.
• A care plan is drawn up setting out what services will be provided.
• A financial assessment is carried out to determine any charges for services.
• The care plan is implemented.

Discharge day

To make sure that everything goes as smoothly as possible on discharge day, you should expect the following type of arrangements to be made:

• Appropriate transport should be organised if it is required.
• You should both be given copies of your care plans.
• A discharge letter should be sent to the patient's GP within 24 hours.
• Medication and any equipment needed at home should be dispensed to the patient, as
  well as instructions and information about its use.
• Any necessary domiciliary/care services should be put in place to start on the day of discharge.
• A discharge 'lounge' (or similar space) should be available for use in the hospital while
  waiting for transport, medication etc.

  The discharge process

  Planning for discharge

  Planning for a patient's discharge should take place at the earliest opportunity. You and the patient should be involved at all stages of planning for discharge. Hospital and social care staff should work together to manage all parts of the discharge process. This is to ensure that the patient is suitably cared for after they have left hospital and not at risk of being unable to cope.

  You should be given an opportunity to talk about your needs as a carer and what help you may need to look after the patient.  It is your legal right to have your needs addressed and this is achieved by having acarer's assessment.

  Before the patient leaves hospital the following should also happen:

  • You and the patient should expect to be given both verbal and written information, with contact details and any relevant information about future treatment and care. The information should be available in a language suitable for you, large print or Braille.
  • A 'discharge co-ordinator' (or ward care coordinator) should be available to coordinate the planning process and act as a key person for you to contact to find out about the discharge plans.
  • In situations where a patient does not want you to be involved or have information about their care, you should be informed of this and advised of your own right to an assessment.
  • If the patient lacks mental capacity you may be able to make certain decisions about health and welfare matters if you have aLasting Power of Attorney (LPA) dealing with health and welfare matters. If there is no LPA the law requires professionals to act in the patient's 'best interests' and you should be involved in the decision making process.

  The discharge procedure

  In most cases patients need some support from the NHS or social services after discharge. If this is your situation the discharge procedure is as follows:

  • An assessment for NHS continuing care should be carried out where it appears there may be a need for such care. This is an assessment to establish whether the NHS should continue to fund care after discharge from hospital. This care is provided free of charge. To qualify for NHS continuing care a person leaving hospital must have a 'primary health need', a need for nursing or other health services which are not just incidental or ancillary to services which the local authority could be expected to provide. Your view of the patient's needs should be included when the multi-disciplinary team assesses eligibility for continuing care. If continuing care is offered, it could be provided in someone's own home or in various types of residential care, such as a residential or nursing home.
  • The patient and carer should be consulted about whether or not to involve social services.
  • Social services are then notified if assessments are required.
  • Both patient and carer's assessments are carried out.
  • A care plan is drawn up setting out what services will be provided.
  • A financial assessment is carried out to determine any charges for services.
  • The care plan is implemented.

  Discharge day

  To make sure that everything goes as smoothly as possible on discharge day, you should expect the following type of arrangements to be made:

  • Appropriate transport should be organised if it is required.
  • You should both be given copies of your care plans.
  • A discharge letter should be sent to the patient's GP within 24 hours.
  • Medication and any equipment needed at home should be dispensed to the patient, as
    well as instructions and information about its use.
  • Any necessary domiciliary/care services should be put in place to start on the day of discharge.
  • A discharge 'lounge' (or similar space) should be available for use in the hospital while
    waiting for transport, medication etc.