Joint visits to Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury to gather patient experiences of leaving hospital

Healthwatch East Sussex and Healthwatch Kent undertook joint visits to to Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury on 4 and 6 August 2014 provided by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust to gather patient experiences of leaving hospital.  They spoke to 23 people.

From all the interviews with staff members it was evident that staff teams work in an integrated way that allows for staff to be proactive and innovative in identifying solutions to improve the experience for patients. The interviews identified issues for Healthwatch East Sussex to take forward on behalf of its residents who use the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury.

Most of the experiences of patients spoken to were positive about their discharge process and found that they were well involved with the planning and were aware overall of their ongoing support and medication needs. It should be acknowledged patients declaring themselves well enough to go home, there is a mall concern that some patients may be placing their ongoing care and support of others before their own health. Where patients are known to have a spouse, family member or other individual who is reliant upon receiving support from the patient themselves, this should be considered in the patients discharge planning. 

Discharging a patient who declares themselves well enough to go home, when they may need some further time to recover, in order to continue with their own caring responsibilities could have a detrimental effect for not only the patient, but also the person they care for. This perhaps could be further explored as part of the early discharge process.