NHS urged to do more to help patients leave hospital safely
Healthwatch England new research reveals worrying problems with hospital discharge arrangements. Many people told us they are not given the right support or information when being discharged from hospital. Read their experiences and our calls to action.
Ahead of winter, when demand for services increases and when there is pressure on trusts to discharge patients as quickly as possible, Healthwatch England (HWE) have looked again at what people are telling them about leaving hospital.
Healthwatch England Research
Following Healthwatch England's work with the British Red Cross in 2020, HWE conducted a survey this autumn to learn about people’s recent experiences of hospital discharge.
Healthwatch has heard from 583 people (including 175 carers) who have been through the hospital discharge process in the past 12 months.
Key findings
- Over half, 59%, of people said the hospital discharge team didn't ask if they needed support in getting transport to the place they were discharged to, contrary to government guidance
- People discharged either in the early hours, before 9 am, or late, after 6 pm, were significantly less likely to be asked if they needed transport.
- Over half, 51%, of people weren’t given contact information for further help or advice when leaving the hospital, contrary to government guidance
- Nearly a third, 32%, felt unprepared at discharge.
- Carers were more likely than patients to say they didn't feel prepared at discharge (44% of carers, 25% of patients).
- Over one in ten, 11%, had to wait over 12 hours after being told they were well enough to leave the hospital.
- Over one in five, 24% reported an excellent hospital discharge experience, with 37% reporting either a mixed or neutral experience.
For more details about the research, please visit Healthwatch England's website or the click the link: NHS urged to do more to help patients leave hospital safely
