From the time you arrive in hospital, we will start planning your discharge (the day you leave hospital) with you.

Research shows that people recover better at home once their treatment in hospital is complete. No-one wants to stay in hospital any longer than necessary, so we will work with you to avoid delays. It is important that we assess your needs and make sure you will be safe and able to manage when you go home.

There are a variety of services that can support you when you leave hospital and the team caring for you will agree when you no longer need hospital care. We will always try to get you home but may need to look at a short-term alternative until either your condition improves or suitable help at home can be arranged. This may include sending you home under the care of a 鈥榲irtual ward鈥�.
听

The aim of virtual wards is to support you during your recovery from your recent illness at home or hospital stay. It enables you to be safely cared for in your own home, while remaining under the care of our virtual health team.

The hospital will be responsible for your care until the team are certain you have recovered enough. 

When you are enrolled onto our virtual ward and discharged from one of our emergency areas at 半岛体育 Health, you will either:

  • Be given access to an application you can download on your phone or tablet to be able to give us readings of your vital signs or how your symptoms are developing.
  • Or we will book you into the pathology service if you need repeat bloods taken. We will then review and call you with the results.

Many patients on the virtual ward can be monitored remotely. You will be given access to the ‘DocoboAPP’ to enable you to give us updates about your progress while you are on the virtual ward. You will be given a thorough explanation of how this works when the team get in touch for your initial call from the virtual ward.

Virtual wards patient information

Whenever you are on a virtual ward, you will always have contact from our team over the phone at various intervals while on our system. Please be aware this may be from a withheld or private number. We advise all patients to ensure family members are aware that you are having this monitoring.

Our hospitals are designed to meet your needs while you are unwell. Staying in hospital longer than necessary is not good for you. It can put you at greater risk of hospital-acquired infections as well as reduce your ability to take care of yourself.

Staying in hospital longer than needed is also not good for the NHS. Other people who are very unwell or who are waiting for surgery need to be admitted to hospital.

If the hospital does not have space to do this, we may have to keep people waiting for long periods in the emergency department or cancel their operations.

The team will also discuss when you should be assessed for any long-term care and support.

You may need to have an assessment for certain types of care, but your health and care team (adult services) will be able to answer any questions you may have.
 

Discharge summary

We will give you a letter that contains details of your hospital admission and any changes to your medications. This is known as a ‘discharge summary’. We will also send a copy to your GP for their records.

Accessing your records

You may wish to sign up for My半岛体育Health Record. This is an app and that you can use to help manage your care after you go home. It allows you to view details of appointments and book follow ups, attend online consultations, and view medications, test results, records, and letters. Proxy access allows you to give permission for someone else to view details on your behalf, and for adults to access accounts for child patients. Frequently asked questions.

We will return any medications that you brought into hospital and still need. Please make sure that you have received them before you leave.

If you have started any new medications during your stay in hospital, we will give you a supply to take home. Your GP will then prescribe more if you need to continue taking it.

We will explain what your medication is for and how you should take it.
 

You are expected to make your own arrangements for returning home.

If you have not been able to do this, please tell the ward staff as soon as possible.

If you are unable to travel by car or public transport due to a medical condition, you may be eligible for patient transport.

To book patient transport on your behalf, we will need to share details such as your name, address, NHS number and health conditions with our transport provider. This is for your safety. If you do not want your information to be shared, please tell the ward staff as soon as possible.

On the day you leave the ward, staff will help you to pack your belongings. They will then escort you to the discharge lounge to wait for any medication you need, and to be collected.

If you need more care than the discharge lounge can provide, we will ask you to stay on the ward until you can leave the hospital.

Sometimes our patients need continued support on discharge, this might include a further period of rehabilitation, which may be carried out at home or in another setting such as community ward or at home.

Plans may change from day to day as the ward teams match your care needs and requirements with availability of community resources, for example a period in a community hospital may be planned but if your health improves you may then be able to go home with help.  

Alternatively, we may not be able to arrange care at home immediately and a short stay bed or bed in a community ward will be offered as an interim arrangement whilst you wait for your care at home to be arranged. There is an expectation that once patients are medically fit for discharge they will accept this interim alternative if your care cannot be arranged immediately. 

If long term care is required this will be discussed with you, and you will be given the opportunity to be referred to the local authority to support you with your options for discharge.

If you need a nursing or care home and your preferred choice of permanent home is not available, you will be offered an alternative as an interim arrangement while you wait for a place to become available in your chosen home.

In making these arrangements please be assured that your health and care is of the utmost importance to us, as all the evidence suggests that an unnecessarily long stay in an acute hospital is detrimental to wellbeing.

Use this checklist to help you get ready for leaving hospital. Making preparations in advance can help to avoid unnecessary delays or concerns on the day of your discharge from the ward.

Arrangements
  • I have arranged my transport for going home or have asked the ward team to organise a taxi.
  • The person picking me up knows the correct day and time to collect me.
  • I have made arrangements with family or friends for any help I need at home.
  • I have my house keys with me, or there is someone at home to let me in.
  • A relative, carer or friend has checked that my heating is on (in colder months) and that the house is ready.
  • There is food at home.
Getting ready
  • I have outdoor clothing and shoes to wear while on the ward and for travelling home.
  • I have all the medical equipment or supplies I need at home.
  • I have all the medication I brought in with me and/or the medication the hospital has issued.
  • I have all of my belongings, including valuables, with me.
What I need to know when I go home
  • I know about any arrangements made for my continuing care (if needed).
  • I know who to contact if I have any concerns or queries about my condition.
  • I know whether I will need any follow-up appointments and when these will take place.
  • I understand how to take my medication and what side effects to look out for.
  • I have been given all the information I need.