Joint Hospital Discharge Report, Kingston Upon Hull, East Riding, North Lincolnshire

The Report is multi-layered but it’s main focus is concerned to address people’s expressions of being discharged from hospital in the areas of East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston-Upon –Hull and North Lincolnshire.
Healthwatch England conducted 2 Survey Reports across the three areas , the first to Patients and Relatives, the second to Providers of Health and Social Care Services. Two Enter and Views were also completed [ Hull Royal Infirmary and Scunthorpe Royal Infirmary ].
98 responses were received in total which were mainly positive. Four in five were satisfied with the Discharge process. Of the 20% who said their experience was poor or very poor, the response identified the following issues :

• A lack of information and communication;
• Delays in Discharge;
• Awaiting completion of Paperwork and awaiting assessment of social care needs;
• The issue of ineffective communication from Hospital was also stated by Providers.

Overall, a number of recommendations have been made based on the Joint Report. It includes :
1. Fast Tracking Patients for pharmacy medication as the point of discharge;
2. Making use of Patient Passports throughout the Hospital journey;
3. The central fact of effective communication and the quality of conversations that take place with Patients during the screening for discharge process; This applies equally to care providers;
4. Hospital Trusts to develop bedded discharge areas where possible and thereby avoid blocking beds on Wards; Where the Patient does return home they should do so with dignity and with their belongings, appropriate paperwork and instructions for carers.