Your discharge from hospital

Planning your discharge

Our top priority is to help you recover and then support you to leave hospital at the earliest appropriate opportunity.

You will be discharged when you no longer need care that can only be given in a hospital setting.

It is important that we work together to plan your discharge from as early in your stay as possible. We will discuss and agree with you on the next steps towards your discharge.

If you live in an area outside of Bristol, North Somerset, or South Gloucestershire, before you are ready for discharge home, you will be ‘repatriated’ back to your local hospital to continue your recovery.

‘Home is Best’

For most people, we know returning to the place you call home is the best thing to help your recovery. We will do all we can to support you.

Once home, you will be able to do more for yourself and will be more active in your own surroundings. This will have a positive effect on your muscle strength, activity levels, your wellbeing, and increase your independence.

Being at home, often with the support of family and friends, reduces the risks associated with staying in hospital longer than necessary. These risks can include pressure injuries and infections. You will also enjoy a better night’s sleep amongst your home comforts. All these factors help speed up your recovery.

We also need to be able to make sure that our hospital beds are available for people who need them, so a timely discharge benefits you and a person who is unwell and waiting to come into hospital.

What if I need extra support once I am discharged?

You may need some extra support to help you recover at home. This will be arranged before discharge. This could include support from community health colleagues such as District Nurses or the Rehabilitation team, voluntary services providing practical help with things like shopping or using the NHS@Home service to monitor your medical recovery.

If you require more complex care and support, and are unable to return directly home, you will be transferred to an alternative community setting. This will be for a short time to continue your recovery, complete further assessments, and discuss your ongoing needs. These temporary placements are offered when they are available and where they can meet your needs.

If you are a care home resident, you will most likely return directly to your care home, with any additional support arranged for you.

Discharge planning: what might I expect?

Early conversations

Soon after you arrive in hospital, we will discuss and plan with you how you will be able to leave hospital at the earliest appropriate opportunity.

We can involve your carers, family, and/or friends in these conversations if you would like. They will be asked to advise what they may be able to do to support you both in preparation for discharge once you are home.

Expected date of discharge

As soon as you’re admitted you will be given an “expected date of discharge.” This is the date we expect you will leave hospital and you will be updated if this changes.

You are likely to move wards whilst you are with us- we will do all we can to make this a smooth process. This may include moving to other buildings on the Southmead site such as Elgar Re-enablement Unit or Cotswold ward.

Encouragement to keep active

Staying active in hospital can help you return home more quickly and help prevent loss of strength and independence (this is known as deconditioning).

Here are some ways you can help yourself:

Communicate with the ward team: let them know your normal activity levels and ask how they can support you to stay active.
Move around: walk to the bathroom and around your room, this can be alone or with help if you need it. Ask your family/friends to bring in your usual toiletries.
Sit up for meals and visitors: sit in a chair or at the edge of your bed during meals and when you have visitors.
Exercise gently: do gentle exercises throughout the day.
Do small amounts and often: to avoid you getting tired.
Dress in your everyday clothes: If possible, wear your regular clothes during the day. Ask your family/friends to bring them in for you, along with your usual footwear.
Actively participate in discharge planning: Stay involved in planning your discharge and share your thoughts with us.

On the day you leave hospital

We like to give you as much notice as possible of your discharge, but this isn’t always possible. As soon as you are advised that you are closer to being ready to leave, we will support you to have your discharge plans in place.

Returning home

On the day of your discharge, you will be provided with a discharge summary, which will also be sent to your GP, and the medication you need when you leave. The ward staff will explain your medication and you should read the written instructions on the packaging which tell you how to take it. This includes how often and at what time. Your GP will be able to prescribe more medication is needed.

As early as possible on the day of your discharge, you can expect to be transferred to the Discharge Lounge. This could be as early as 7am. Staff will work closely with the ward teams, pharmacy, and the person collecting you to make sure you safely depart from hospital.

In the Discharge Lounge, the final parts of your care will be provided by the nursing team, including giving you medications, snacks and drinks. You will have access to a television, radio, and garden area.

Some people may leave directly from the ward and you will be told if this is what will happen to you. This may happen if you are discharged later in the evening.

Where possible, we will help you to get home as early as possible, so please ask your family and friends to make sure everything is ready for your arrival, including having food available. If this isn’t possible, we will ask Voluntary Services colleagues to help.

If you need support from community services, this will have been agreed before you are discharged, and they will visit you at home. If you require a follow-up appointment or investigation, we will arrange this and send you a letter with the details.

Transferring to a community bed

If you are being transferred to a community bed, the process is the same as returning home, except that hospital transport will be arranged for you.

The location of your community bed will be shared with you as soon as possible before you are discharged.

Questions and queries

You may feel worried or apprehensive returning home or being transferred to another location. Please speak with your ward team if you have any concerns. They can put you in contact with our Transfer of Care Hub partners, who can speak with you to provide support and reassurance.

These organisations can also support you once you are discharged:

Your GP

Help with non-emergency illnesses or injuries.

NHS 111

Help if you have an urgent medical problem and need to get advice and treatment.

Sirona Care and Health

For adult’s and children’s community health services in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.
0300 125 6789
Home - Sirona care & health (sirona-cic.org.uk)

Age UK Bristol

Working in the community to support older people, their families, and carers.
0117 929 7537
Age UK | The UK's leading charity helping every older person who needs us

Alliance NS

Providing housing related support to the North Somerset community.
0300 012 0120
Alliance Homes: Alliance Homes Homepage

Southern Brooks SG

Providing community support in South Gloucestershire.
0117 403 4238
Southern Brooks Community Partnerships – We’re a community development organisation, which brings people together to build strong communities

Councils and local authorities

For information and support for adult care in your area.