Your nurse will be responsible for arranging your discharge plan. If you have any concerns about how you will manage when you leave hospital please talk to your nurse or ward sister. Your nurse can arrange for other members of the hospital team (such as the social worker, integrated discharge service or care manager) to visit you on the ward and help you.
When making plans to leave hospital you might want to consider the following:
- If you live alone, try to arrange for a relative or friend to check that your home is ready for your return.
- Will you need food supplies at home? You can ask for a hospital volunteer to do some shopping for you on the day of your discharge, but please make sure you have the money to pay for it.
- Is your home suitable for your return or will it require some adaptations to meet your needs?
- Will you or your carer be able to manage when you return home?
- Will you have housing problems on or soon after discharge?
- Will you require Social Services on discharge?
- Will you need independent financial advice?
- Do you need help with personal care?
- Will you require home help to do your shopping, housework, meals or laundry?
- Will you require meals on wheels?
- Will you need transport home?
You will not be discharged until all the appropriate arrangements have been made to meet your needs. You and, if you agree, your carer will be involved and informed at all stages of discharge planning.
