Insights into Hospital Discharge Executive Summary: A study of patient, carer and staff experience at Princess Alexandra Hospital
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Healthwatch Essex undertook research into people's experiences of discharge from the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow in 2015. They spoke to 118 people.
Most patients spoke well of staff, praising their efficiency, and felt that they were doing their best given that they were very busy and at times appeared to be short staffed. However, our findings indicate that there is a lack of consistency with regards to the quality of care patients receive, particularly in relation to discharge planning.
Information regarding discharge was not always readily available to patients and poor communication is a recurring theme throughout. Families were sometimes seen by staff as an impediment to timely and effective discharge, often because discussion with families about a patient’s discharge did not occur early enough in the discharge process.
Ward and discharge team staff said that the complex systems for administering discharge, coupled with a shortage of resources (including support in the community, funding and nursing staff shortages). All led to serious challenges for staff discharging patients safely and in a timely manner.