If you’re worried about how you or a loved one will cope once you are discharged, please talk to your nurse.
Your discharge plan
Your discharge plan is essentially your ‘going home’ plan. Your nurse will be responsible for arranging this and you will be informed of your discharge arrangements as soon as they are made.
We want to involve you as much as possible in your discharge plan and your nurse will always inform you if we need to make any changes to your arrangements.
When making your plans to leave hospital you might want to consider:
- Is your home suitable for your return of will it require some adaptations for your needs?
- Do you need help with personal care?
- Do you need someone to help with your shopping and housework?
- Will you need transport home?
You will not be discharged until your needs are met.
Please feel free to ask any member of staff if there is anything in your discharge plan that you are not sure of or if you have not been told yet when you can go home.
Your leaving hospital checklist
When you are ready to go home, your nurse will make sure you or your carer fully understand your agreed care plan.
Your nurse will give you an information leaflet and explain this to you. You may also be given details for a future outpatients appointment for a check up. If you need a fit note, please ask your nurse.
You may be given medicine, wound dressings or medical equipment to take home with you. Our staff will always discuss how to use these with you. If you need more supplies you should arrange this with your GP or local pharmacy.
If you cannot leave at your discharge time, you may be taken to our discharge lounge to wait for your lift home or for your pharmacy medication.
Before you leave please make sure you:
- Fully understand your care plan. Please use this opportunity to ask any questions you may have
- Have your medication and information leaflets
- Have any money and personal belongings you brought to hospital
- Leave a forwarding address if you’re not staying at your home address
- Ask your nurse for a fit note if you need one
- Return any hospital equipment you no longer need. There’s more information about this on our medical equipment page
- Return any hospital property – for example, books and phone chargers
- Have transport home and someone to keep an eye on you if this is part of your care plan
