Mental health discharge

Healthwatch Wigan and Leigh created a report based on the results of a survey they carried out amongst people that had been discharged following their admission to a mental health service in the area.

22 people completed the survey, which was distributed electronically via the Healthwatch Wigan and Leigh mailing list and social media and paper surveys were filled out at meetings with local groups, including a women's group and a mental health support group.

Key findings included the general feedback that people felt they were discharged too early, there was not enough discussion with patients prior to discharge, discharge planning was poor and people were not well supported with a care plan or appropriate follow-up.

Also, people who had been recently discharged relied heavily on their community networks, mental health support groups and their friends and family. This was only possible because many have had a condition for some time and so had networks and were already aware of services.

The report concluded that the survey showed a large proportion of patients felt their discharge from services was untimely and poorly

planned. Post discharge experiences showed a high number of incidents of harm and high levels of use of accident emergency and crisis services in the first week post discharge.

Two recommendations were made in the report:

1. That a full sampling study should be commissioned to study the discharge experiences of a cohort of mental patients in near real time. Such a study should take account of patient’s self-reported views of the discharge planning decisions and process as well as their post discharge health status and patterns of service usage.

2. This report (and the results of any sampling study) should be considered by the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Wigan Safeguarding Boards in order to ensure that all relevant parties are focused on improving the situation.