This blog provides an insightful guide to the hospital discharge pathway, written by EKPCN’s care coordinators Sandie Parsley and Molly Shearsby. Even if you are not currently in hospital it is beneficial for everyone to understand more about the hospital discharge pathway.
Upon hospital admission, the staff looking after you will help you plan for when you are ready to leave, this will be your discharge plan.  Information that the discharge team may ask includes things such as your home life, if you have to go up the stairs to access your home, do you have friends and relatives who are able to support you during your recovery with things like bathing, cooking, personal care. Â
The hospital staff may speak to your family and friends and the people supporting you in your recovery. This is important as it ensures that everyone involved in your recovery is on the same page and has a clear idea of the type of and level of care you will need. This could include small things like making sure the heating is on when you get home, or having someone help you wash and manage your laundry and even clinical support such as changing your dressings and helping you manage medication. Â
You will also go through any support you are already getting from social services, the community health team (such as district nurses), or any carers. This support is called a care package. If you do not have a care package before your hospital stay but need one now, then the hospital will set up an initial care package for you upon discharge; this could be up to 6 weeks, depending on how long you require the care. The initial care package provided to you may be free for a short period of time during your recovery.  If you require care on a more long-term basis after your initial package of care, then you will need to go through (and will be entitled to) a Care Act assessment (The 2014 Care Act). This assessment will determine what care you need for the long term, this will also be means-tested, and you will be asked about your finances to see if you would need to pay for private care or if you are entitled to government financial support with your care.  If you have over £23,500 in savings, you will be considered ‘self-funding’ and may have to pay in full for your care. Please note that most people will need to contribute to their care plan; the amount of contribution you would make is worked out via your current income/ financial situation.   Â
Further to creating a care plan and package for you within your recovery, staff at the hospital can also organise for equipment and aids to be ordered to your home to help with your recovery. For example, a hospital bed, walking frames, grab rails, etc., can be provided. Â
Top Tips upon Your Hospital Discharge. Â
It is understandable that you and your loved ones will be in a rush to get you home from hospital, however, it is very important to be as honest as possible when planning your discharge, for example, if you believe that your wife/husband/partner would be unable to support you getting up and out of beds/ walking around the home/ preparing you food etc. it's best to let the hospital know this so care can be provided for those duties.Â
Great Western Hospital has a service called Wiltshire Carers Support, which will help carers when the person they care for is in the hospital and the often-difficult first few weeks after they return home. https://www.gwh.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/carers/
Make sure your heating is on (dependent on weather). Ask family/friends to remove tripping and falling hazards. Ensure that the path and entryway to your home is clear of snow, leaves, and other debris.
Ask someone to arrange for essential items such as milk, bread, and shopping to be ready for your return.Â
Ensure you have the medicine you need.
Get adequate rest. Sleep is when your body can repair and heal. Â
Get moving. Physical activity is just as important as rest.
If you'd like any more information or a telephone conversation about the hospital discharge pathway, call your local surgery and ask to speak to your Care - coordinator
Written by Sandie Parsley - Care coordinator for Ramsbury and KAMP surgeries
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