Leaving hospital: Discharge information for patients

While you are in hospital, we will talk to you about an expected discharge date. This is a guide to help you and your care team plan ahead.

When your clinical team decides you are medically ready to leave, they will talk with you about any care or support you may need after discharge.

If needed, we may also speak with Adult Social Care or other healthcare services to help arrange your ongoing support.
Your family or carer can be involved in these discussions if you would like them to be.

Before you leave, we will make sure arrangements are in place for medication, equipment and any support you need.

You may return home or move to another care setting, depending on your needs. Many patients leave via the Hospital Discharge Lounge, where you can wait for transport, medication or collection by family or friends. 

Different people may be involved in planning your discharge, including:

• Doctors and nurses 
• Therapists 
• Pharmacists 
• Social care teams 
• Patients
• Families and carers (if the patient wishes). 

Some people need extra support when leaving hospital. This is sometimes called a supported discharge pathway. The pathway depends on the level of help you need after leaving hospital.

Pathway 0: You go home without any new support, or with the same support you had before.
Pathway 1: You go home with short-term or long-term support, such as a care package or community reablement support.
Pathway 2: You leave hospital and go to a bedded care setting for a short period of rehabilitation.
Pathway 3: You move to a care home, nursing home or residential placement.

*Link to patient information leaflets*

Before you leave hospital, you will usually receive:

• A discharge letter explaining your hospital stay, treatment and any ongoing care needs
• Information to share with your GP and other healthcare professionals
• Advice about your medicines and recovery. You will usually be sent home with at least two weeks of prescribed medication. Over-the-counter items such as simple pain relief and emollients are not usually supplied for patients who are mobile and independent.

Sometimes there can be a wait before you leave hospital. This may be because we are arranging medication, paperwork, transport or onward care.

Hospital transport can be arranged for patients who meet the eligibility criteria. If you are not eligible, you will need to arrange for family, friends or a taxi to take you home.
Please note that patient transport can only carry a small number of personal belongings, so larger items should be taken home by family or friends if possible.

If there is a delay or you have any concerns, please speak to the ward team. They will help you or contact the right team for an update.

For most people, home is the best place to continue recovering. Leaving hospital when you are well enough helps reduce the risk of infection and loss of strength or independence.

Please get help if:

• Your symptoms get worse or you develop new symptoms
• You have any problems with your medication

You can get support from:

• Your GP
• NHS 111
• Emergency services in an urgent or life-threatening situation

Follow-up appointments

Some patients will have a follow-up appointment arranged before they leave hospital.
This may take place in an outpatient clinic or in a community setting, depending on the care you need

If the patient would like you to be involved, carers, family and friends can be included in discharge planning and may be given:

• Information about the patient’s condition and care needs
• Guidance on medicines and equipment
• Advice on supporting recovery at home
• Information about where to get extra help and support

Carers, family and friends may also be able to get support from:

• Social care services through your local authority
• Carer support and voluntary organisations
• Advice from hospital teams before discharge
• Community support after discharge
• Local health and wellbeing services

If you have questions about discharge, you can speak to:

• Ward staff 
• Discharge coordinators 
• Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) 
• Social care teams