Discharge from Hospital

Staff will help you and your family plan for when you are ready to leave Hospital. They will ask you about the facilities you have at home and if you have anyone who will be able to support you at home during your recovery. They will also need to know about any support you receive from Social Services and/or community health staff. This is to ensure all the services you need are in place before you leave Hospital. If you, or anyone who cares for you, are worried about how you will manage when you go home please talk to the ward staff immediately.

Help, information and advice is available directly from the Social Work Department.

There are two social work teams:

• Children and Families Social Work for patients aged up to 18 years. Contact telephone number 01283 511511, extension 4421
• Adult Social Work: Contact telephone number 01283 511511, extension 5656 or if you live in Derbyshire extension 5552.

Your doctor will write to your GP about your treatment, any medicines you need and future care needs. You may be given a follow-up appointment in the Outpatient Department where you will be seen by your Consultant or a member of their team.

NB: We appreciate most patients wish to return home as soon as possible; therefore we try to keep your length of stay as short as we can. Sometimes it is necessary for patients to be readmitted to hospital fairly soon after being discharged. This is
not necessarily anyone’s fault, but may mean that your health care needs have changed and you would benefit from a further
stay in hospital.

If you need ongoing care

Social Services may need to assess your home environment. Once your care needs are known, a care package will be developed to make sure your needs are met in the most suitable place.

If a care package is required, the ward team will confirm a date when the services you need can start and ensure that any medicines or equipment you need are available when you leave Hospital. Ward staff will also ensure your family are aware of when you are expected to leave the ward so they can arrange for suitable clothes to be brought in for you. If you are returning to your own home, checks can be made to ensure that heating and lighting are working and that you have access
to food.

The Discharge Lounge

Where possible, we aim to discharge patients during the morning. On the day of your discharge, if your condition permits, you may be transferred to our Discharge Lounge to wait. This comfortable lounge is staffed by nurses and helps to ensure beds are available for new patients needing admission. Hot and cold drinks and snacks are provided, together with the usual choices of food at mealtimes. Please ask Discharge Lounge staff if you need to use the telephone or if you are worried about anything. The Lounge is located next to ward 8, ground floor corridor. Contact telephone number 01283 511511, extension 4188.

Leaving Hospital

On the day you are going home your family or friends will be asked to collect you before 11am from the ward or before 12 midday from the Discharge Lounge. In exceptional circumstances, if you cannot be collected by your carers in their own transport or taxi, ambulance transport may be arranged. The ambulance crew will only be able to take you and one bag of belongings. They cannot guarantee a time of arrival as this will depend on their workload.

Patients who leave Hospital on a weekday will be moved to the Discharge Lounge from 9am onwards, where a nurse will look after you while you are waiting to be collected.

The following suggestions may be useful to you and your family to avoid last minute problems:

• Arrange for transport to collect you at 11am (or earlier if advised by nursing staff) from the ward or from the Discharge Lounge later in the morning
• Remember to arrange for food to be available in your home or arrange for access to meals
• You will need clothes and shoes to travel home, including a coat. Remember it may feel cold outside after spending time in the warm ward surroundings.
• Ask visitors to take home some clothes and personal items in your bedside locker before your day of discharge. If you are travelling home by ambulance, the crew will only be able to take you and one bag of belongings
• Check you have all your belongings with you and that you have collected any valuables handed to staff for safe keeping.
• Let the Department of Work and Pensions know when you are discharged otherwise your benefits may be reduced.