🏥Being safely discharged from hospital 🏥

With 15% of elderly patients being re-admitted to hospital within 28 days of discharge, it's more important than ever to plan what level of care and support is required for a safe discharge.

Things to know when you or a loved one is being discharged from hospital

No one enjoys being in hospital, but the health and recovery of the patient is the top priority, especially if further care will be needed at home. Statistics show that 15% of elderly patients are re-admitted within 28 days because they do not receive the right level of care.

Although all you may want is to get yourself or your loved one home, before being discharged, it would be wise to consider what care and support will be required to ensure a safe transition back home. This could include devising a robust care plan and organising care to commence on their return home. We've highlighted below some key points to consider when you or your loved one

Planning for discharge

Before being discharged from hospital, you or your loved one will likely have undergone an assessment to look at the support you need to be discharged safely. Dependent on this assessment, a plan will be implemented regarding the care needed when leaving the hospital.

Minimal discharge

If the discharge assessment shows that little or no care is necessary, it's called a minimal discharge. For instance, formal care and support may not be needed, simply advice or support to arrange help with domestic tasks for a few weeks.

Complex discharge

Alternatively, if more specialised care after leaving hospital is needed, the discharge or transfer procedure is referred to as a complex discharge. In this case you will receive a detailed plan regarding your health and social care needs. This may contain prescription instructions, scheduled follow-up appointments, any equipment needed to support recovery as well instructional materials or as resources that could assist you at home.

Preparing for hospital discharge

When preparing for discharge, which will happen on the day the doctor decides you or your loved one no longer requires hospital care, it is important to note the following:

Please bear in mind that every hospital will have their own discharge policy, so ensure you check your local NHS hospital discharge policy. You should be able to get a copy from the ward manager or the hospital's Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).

Organising a safe transition home

When returning home, it is important that you or your loved one has everything needed for a full recovery. It is also vital to make sure there is plenty of food, drink, and other essentials at home.

If specialised care is required, you or your loved one may be preparing to take on a caring role for the first time. However, arranging a temporary carer may help to make the transition easier as they will provide extra care and companionship when it is most needed.

If you do not require formal support, you or your loved one may still need assistance with tasks such as shopping or collecting prescriptions. Therefore, it may be helpful for a friend or relative to stay or visit you or your loved one regularly. Although care at home may not be necessary, it is important that to accept assistance in order to not end up back in hospital.

How we can help

At Bluebird Care Solihull, we work alongside families and individuals to tailor our services to help our customers stay in control of their own care for as long as they are able to.

We have great relationships with the district nurses and discharge units across the area including The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital, Moseley Hall Hospital, West Heath Rehabilitation Centre and Anne Marie Howes Centre.

Our domiciliary care services are not just here to support you at home, but to support you to continue living your life, the way you want to. We’re able to take you to doctor’s appointments, to the shops, to meet up with your friends and family, to support you to live an independent life.

Alternatively, should you or your loved one require more full-time care, we also provide live-in care. A member of our team will ask what is important about the way you live your life so we can provide the care you want, the way you want it.

Contact our dedicated team today via phone 0121 803 6787, email solihull@bluebirdcare.co.uk or visit our home care in Solihull page to learn more about our various home care services in Solihull and to see how we can help care for you or your loved one at home. We also have several useful information pages regarding support for carers and your safety and wellbeing.

For further guidance, you can visit the government page on hospital discharge and community support.