Getting home from hospital

We will talk with you about when you might be able to go home and make sure we discuss what is important to you. We will do our best to answer any questions or worries you may have about leaving hospital.

After staying in hospital, some people need extra help when they go home. We will talk about the help you might have already and any extra help you might need.

Once we understand this, we will talk together about your options. We want to make sure that, after you leave the hospital, you’re going to the best place for your recovery – this will probably be your own home.

Where appropriate, and with your consent, we will involve your family or carers in making decisions about your health and care. You might find it helpful to include them in our discussions.

There is also plenty that family members can do to speed up the process. If you have a loved one getting ready to be discharged from hospital, please think about the following checklist:

• Do they have somewhere warm and comfortable at home to recover?
• Have they stocked up on food and drink?
• Make sure they can get home – will they need an arrangement with relatives, friends or carers?
• Have they got suitable clothing for their discharge?
• Make sure they have their house keys with them
• They may have specific medical needs – for instance a sharps box for needles and syringes
• Do they have the medication they need when they are discharged such as insulin, or dressings and equipment
• Do ask a member of hospital staff for any written information leaflets that could help or contact details of relevant services
• Check in advance with any local charities or organisations that may offer a supporting service such as Lancashire Fire and Rescue which offers a home fire assessment
• They may be referred to a service to support their recovery such as a rehabilitation service or other specialist team so make sure you are comfortable with this information.

We will return any medication you may have brought in from home, along with any newly prescribed medication from the hospital pharmacy. It is important to let us know if you already have supplies of medicines at home. We will explain your medication to you before discharge, but if you require any more information please ask your nurse or doctor.

If you need a follow-up appointment or any further investigations, we will arrange this before you leave, or will contact you as soon as we can when you get home.

When you are discharged, we will send a letter to your GP explaining the reason why you were in hospital. This will tell your GP everything they need to know about your stay in hospital, your medication and your discharge location.

You will need to arrange your own transport home, please arrange for a friend or relative to collect you. If your care is being transferred to another setting, we will arrange appropriate transport for you.

If your services are not available when you are medically well enough to leave the hospital, we will need to make alternative arrangements on a short-term basis. These arrangements might include a residential or nursing home until your services can commence.

We will support you and give you the information you need to make this decision. It is not suitable for you to stay in a hospital due to the negative impact it can have on your health outcomes.

If you need help at home when you are discharged, community support services will be arranged before or upon your return.

If a family member or a friend care for you on a regular basis, they can access free support and advice from Support and benefits for carers - NHS (www.nhs.uk) and may be eligible for a carer’s grant.

For more information on grants visit: Benefits and financial support if you're caring for someone - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you would like a copy of this information in leaflet form to be given to someone else, please speak to your nurse or discharge coordinator.

Please make sure you have your keys, outdoor clothing and footwear. You may wish to arrange for someone to help you with this. This person may also help make sure you have food and drink at home, and that your heating is on.

Our Transfer of Care Hub has a range of services in place to help you to return safely to your own home. If you can't return home when you are ready to leave hospital, your assessment will be completed in the place you go to on discharge.

If you need support at home, the Adult Social Care Team will arrange this prior to discharge and complete an Assessment of your needs when you are at home. If a Carers assessment is required, this will be completed either before your discharge or once you are at home.

If you need any equipment to support you at home, arrangements will be made and discussed with you as part of your care plan.