A dementia friendly discharge from hospital: Enter and view

This report brings together a wealth of experiences about being discharged from hospital shared by people who have dementia, or care for someone with dementia. Enter and view methodology was used and 6 personal stories were included to produce an overview of what good practice in discharge looks like.

Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen worked with the East Lancashire Hospital Trust (ELHT) and Adult Social care Services, the Dementia Action Alliance and Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service to obtain a comprehensive overview of how services are intended to be delivered locally and their activities since ELHT signed up to the Dementia Friendly Hospital Charter.

They visited a dementia friendly medical ward, a care home and a local dementia care service to understand how the hospital prepared for discharge, communications through the process, what happens post discharge and how people are supported thereafter. They found that although improvements had been made there were still some areas that needed attention. Ensuring that carers are listened to at point of discharge and choices are proffered and that care plans and medication needs are clearly communicated with the correct information ot name a few.

Healthwatch obtained a response from the hospital and the lead for Adult Social care Services citing tangible changes that were made as a result of the report or which would be made in the near future.