Going home

Going home

Discharge to your home

If you can be discharged home, we will be asking your family and friends to support this by being ready to collect you from hospital when we call. We know people are busy with work, childcare, or other commitments. While it might not always be convenient, a timely response from your family and friends means we can provide a hospital bed to an acutely unwell person who needs it.

Your friends and family may be able to help us by letting us know what they can do to help on a regular basis, for example by preparing meals or helping with dressing and washing. Please ask your loved ones to talk to the team planning your care if you think they can help in any way, as this may mean you can go home a few days earlier. We can provide advice and training if this is helpful.

Discharge to an alternative community setting:

• Depending on your condition, you may need to be transferred to an alternative community setting to continue your recovery safely before you return home. This may mean a transfer to an NHS care home bed, or to one of our specialist community rehabilitation units. We are sorry that due to the unprecedented demand for services, this may not be the facility nearest to your home.
• The team providing your care will discuss any additional therapy and/or care support needs with you. The discussion about alternative settings will only take place once your doctor has advised you are well enough to leave hospital.
• Transport will be arranged once the availability of a bed is confirmed.
  
  

I live in a care home – will I go there straight after hospital?

You will be COVID tested 48 hours before you leave hospital and go to a care home. If you have already tested positive for the coronavirus, we will let your care home know.

Going home checklist

• collect your hospital discharge letter for your GP
• ask for any medical certificates you may need
• collect your medicine and prescription
• return any hospital library books
• ask for any valuables you have left with ward staff
• ask for any pension or allowance books left with the general office
• make sure you know the date of any follow up day (outpatient) appointments you may have
• remind the person collecting you to bring outdoor clothing for you
• give the ward staff a forwarding address for your post
• remember to take all your belongings.

Most patients are discharged in the morning on the day they are going home. This means beds are available for patients coming into hospital. If you are being collected by a friend or relative, please ask ward staff to give you a likely discharge time.

Medicines - patients being dischaged from County Hospital 

If you are prescribed medicines or tablets to continue at home, the hospital will provide an initial supply. If you need further supplies, you will be advised to contact your GP. Your prescription details will be included on the discharge letter sent to your GP.

Medicines - patients being discharged from a Community Hospital

Changes made to medication whist an inpatient at a Community Hospital will be prescribed on an FP10 prescription to be collected from your local Pharmacist. For further supplies of prescribed medication, you will be advised to contact your GP.  Your prescription details will be included on the discharge letter sent to your GP.

Outpatient appointments

If you need a follow-up appointment, this will be arranged before you leave and a letter of confirmation will be sent on to you.