When can I go home?
THE most common question patients ask when in hospital is “When can I go home?” There is a huge cost in getting discharge wrong. Whether it is about properly helping new mums at risk with depression, or making sure the patients receiving end-of-life care are given the support they need to spend their final days at home with their loved ones rather than in hospital, everyone should experience a safe, dignified and well-planned transfer of care.
Once you are admitted to hospital, your care plan and discharge plan should start to be developed.
Every patient should be fully involved in the discharge assessment and family or carers should also have the opportunity to contribute.
Each year, across the country, complaints about discharge remains high. There are many factors that can lead to a patient experiencing a delay in discharge including having to await further non-acute NHS care such as community support, mental health care or rehabilitation.
A report published this week by us and neighbouring Healthwatch colleagues show that most of the people we spoke to, felt they were treated with respect and dignity during their hospital stay.
Many respondents reported that hospital staff were kind, caring and supportive. Respondents frequently identified that nursing staff had positively contributed to their stay in hospital.
However, there is room for improvement with regards getting the discharge process right for patients. We made several recommendations including asking hospitals to consider reviewing their methods of record keeping to prevent patients from having to repeat their medical history to hospital staff.
The Berkshire West NHS Connected Care programme is looking at digital transformation. Hospitals should consider reviewing the way in which they are providing medicine to patients upon discharge.
One hospital used volunteer pharmacy runners to collect medication which reduced discharge time significantly. Hospital staff should discuss with patients, as appropriate, the need for health and social care services after leaving hospital.
At the Royal Berkshire Hospital before patients are discharged, members of their health care team will discuss discharge plans with them and provide information on follow-up appointments, medication regimes and other instructions necessary to follow at home. If a patient is unable to leave the hospital by 10am on the day of discharge, they will be transferred to the Craven Road Discharge Lounge.
Some patients may be sent to the lounge whilst they wait for medication to be dispensed.
The Lounge is staffed by a senior staff nurse and a health care assistant who can assist with queries about transport arrangements or medication.
The Discharge Lounge offers a more relaxed environment as opposed to a ward, with comfortable chairs, refreshments, toilets, a selection of newspapers, magazines, radio and television and a communal layout to enable people to chat.
Healthwatch is keen to hear about your experience of hospital discharge. Get in touch by calling our information line, email us, or visit our website.
How to contact us :
Facebook @healthwatchwokingham
Twitter @HWWokingham
Phone 0118 418 1 418
Website www.healthwatchwokingham.co.uk
E-Mail enquiries@healthwatchwokingham.co.uk Walk in via Citizens Advice at 2 Waterford House, Erfstadt Court, Denmark Street, Wokingham RG40 2YF