Dear Patient,
The Assessment and Discharge Process
We want to give you the support you need to get home as quickly as possible. Following a hospital admission, most patients are able to return home, sometimes with a care package or adaptations made to their home. However, some patients are unable to return home and need the added support only available in a care home.
We will involve you in all decisions about your care, treatment and discharge, and give you all the information and support you need to make the best decisions.
What can you expect to happen?
All patients:
- We will tell you when your treatment is due to end and when you would be considered well enough to leave hospital (this is called an estimated discharge date) – we aim to tell you this within 48 hours of you being admitted and will discuss with you if this changes.
- We will provide you with a named staff member who will support you throughout your time in hospital and make sure that things happen when they are supposed to.
Patients who require any support in their home for discharge:
- We will tell you how to access information, advice and support to help you make your discharge decision. This will include helping you to understand your care needs, the process of assessing your needs and the care options available to you. The hospital discharge team will be able to support you with this.
- With your permission, we will request assessment(s) to find out what needs you have and the services you might need to be safely discharged from hospital. The assessments could be for social care, home assessment for any adaptations, eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare, etc.
Patients who require discharge to a care/nursing home:
- It may also be necessary to assess how any ongoing care will be funded, although in most circumstances to avoid any delay this will be carried out after you have been discharged. It is important to note that whilst NHS care is free to everyone, social care is not. Speak with your named staff member to find out what the time limits are for free care and what this might mean for you.
- Once you have received information about the discharge choices that are available to you, we request that you make a decision within seven days. You may wish to arrange for yourself or a family member to meet with the care providers during this time. We will do our best to help make this possible for you and you will be able to speak with a member from the hospital discharge team or local authority about these choices.
- If your preferred choice is not available when you are ready for discharge, an alternative option can be arranged for you temporarily. It is not possible for you to wait in this hospital, once you no longer need hospital care. A team member from North Yorkshire Council will advise on this.
- If you have any concerns regarding the discharge process then you can contact the hospital Patient Experience Team (PET) at any point, on 01423 555499.
Please do not hesitate to ask questions about your discharge at any time during your hospital stay.
With best wishes for a speedy recovery,
Jonathan Coulter
Chief Executive, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust