- Reference Number: HEY-1269/2022
- Departments: Discharge Liaison Services
- Last Updated: 16 February 2022
During your hospital stay, you will find that you are moved to different wards depending on your medical needs. Our top priority is to ensure you are in the right place at the right time for the best recovery possible. This may include moving to a discharge preparation ward while your discharge package of care is organised.
Early conversations
Soon after you arrive in hospital we will discuss and plan how you will be able to leave. We will involve your carers, family and/or friends in conversations if you would like them to be included.
The discharge ward will work towards ensuring your health, mobility and functional abilities are at the best possible level before your discharge. Your stay on the discharge preparation ward will help ease you into the next phase of your care. Whilst the discharge preparation ward will continue to monitor your medical status, the focus will be very much on helping you back into the community.
“Expected date of discharge”
Soon after you arrive in hospital you will be given an “expected date of discharge” (expected date you will leave hospital) which will be reviewed during your stay.
Why can’t I stay in hospital?
When you no longer need hospital care, it is better to continue your recovery out of hospital. Staying in hospital for longer than necessary may reduce your independence, result in you losing muscle strength or expose you to infection. Leaving hospital when you are ready is not only best for you but will free-up a bed for someone who is very unwell.
Please be assured that should you require further medical or surgical treatment, arrangements will be made to move you to another ward that specialises in the care that you require.
Questions to ask during your hospital stay:
- What is the main reason I am in hospital?
- What is going to happen to me today and tomorrow?
- What extra help might I need when I leave hospital?
- When will I be able to leave hospital?
General Advice and Consent
Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.
Consent to treatment
Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.
The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:
- you must be able to give your consent
- you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
- you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person
Information about you
We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.
We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.
Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.
If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.
