Unsafe Discharge from Hospitals Care Home Manager Speak of their Experiences of the System, Rochdale
Download (PDF 906.92 KB)Summary of report content
Data was collected by a face to face meeting or a conference call with 24 Care Home Managers using a prepared questionnaire.
Findings:
• 95% of care home managers surveyed had residents that had experienced an unsafe discharge within the last twelve months.
• 50% had between 1-2 residents experience an unsafe discharge in the last twelve months
• 33% had between 3-5 residents experience an unsafe discharge in the last twelve months
• 54% had residents who had waited between 4-5 hours
• 38% had residents who had waited between 2-3 hours
• No participants had residents who waited less than an hour
• 44% had 1-2 residents discharged without the correct paperwork
• 22% had 3-5 residents discharged without the correct paperwork
Further intelligence evaluated through the Healthwatch Rochdale database discovered:
• 50% of the feedback highlighted patients were being sent home without the correct paper work.
• 30% of feedback was in regards to medication, with residents being discharged without medication or instructions on how to take the medication.
Recommendations:
• All hospitals instigate systems to improve communication with patients, families and external Health and Social care professionals which will involve them in discharge planning and ensure that they are provided with the correct information with regards to medication, follow-up care and appointments that the patient requires.
• Production of an action plan on the system to improve communication with patients, families and external Health and Social care professionals.
• Raising awareness of advanced planning, including advanced directives, such as DNAR (Do not attempt Resuscitation) orders, living wills and nominating a family carer to act as power of attorney (for health) could help ensure better care provision and lived experience for people.
• Heywood Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group to set up a Task and Finish group to carry out a deep dive in relation to patient, families and care home managers experience of the discharge from hospital process.