Discharge from hospital and follow up support

Healthwatch Northamptonshire undertook research on patients’ experiences of discharge from Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital. They spoke to 89 patients during the discharge process and carried out follow-up interviews with nine people after they had returned home.

The research found that patients were generally positive about the care they received, but discharge planning often started late. Only 14% of patients said discharge planning began on admission or soon afterwards, while 71% said it was not discussed until shortly before they left hospital. Many patients felt involved in decisions about their discharge, but some reported receiving mixed messages from different professionals and felt that family members or carers should have been more involved in planning discussions.

Common concerns included delays waiting for medication, transport and discharge paperwork on the day of discharge. Patients also reported that information about follow-up support, who to contact if problems arose and what to expect after leaving hospital was not always clear. Some people felt under-supported after discharge, particularly when waiting for community services or physiotherapy, and several highlighted the importance of having equipment, adaptations and care arrangements in place before returning home.

Healthwatch Northamptonshire recommended that discharge planning should begin much earlier, with greater involvement of family carers and social care professionals. It also called for clearer discharge information, timely social care assessments, better support for carers, improved coordination between services and the provision of clear contact details for patients who need advice or support after leaving hospital.