The NHS in Lincolnshire, in conjunction with the University of Lincoln, and its partners across the health and social care sector have teamed up to raise awareness about the benefits of hospital discharge to patients, their families, and carers.
The aim of the new ‘When am I going home?’ campaign is designed to highlight the benefit of the ‘home first’ approach, particularly the fact that people recover quicker back in their own community, surrounded by familiar surroundings, than in hospital.
In support of the new campaign, the set used in the ‘When am I going home?’ campaign film has been re-built in Lincoln’s Waterside Shopping Centre. The campaign film focuses on the story of a representative patient, talking about the experience of being admitted to County Hospital, Lincoln, following a fall that resulted in a cracked hip, and the support received to aid recovery.
“We know that it’s much better for your physical and mental wellbeing to leave hospital as soon as you are medically ready to go and this is why we have launched this campaign – and our installation in the Waterside Centre – to demonstrate this, but also to show the range of support available to reduce prolonged hospital stays,” explains Nikki Pownall, System Flow Director, NHS Lincolnshire.
“When it works and we’re able to discharge medically fit people from hospital, in addition to the benefits for you as a patient of recovering in your own home and community, it also means we can make the hospital bed you were in available to someone else who needs a high level of care.”
The campaign also aims to provide clarity and reassurance around what happens in hospital and how hospitals help prepare patients for discharge.
“The main priority is to get you better again so that you can return home or to a more suitable care location, and your nurse will be responsible for planning your care and your discharge with you and your family or carer,” adds Nikki.
“This includes an assessment and the development of a care plan if needed, which you – as the patient – will be fully involved in agreeing. It can also include arranging any follow-up appointments before you leave or soon after you arrive home.”
After discharge, patients who need help at home will be contacted by the appropriate community support services, which will again be arranged either before or soon after you are discharged from hospital.
“We also want to use ‘When am I going home’ to provide you with reassurance that, if you need help after discharge, it will be there for you,” comments Nikki.
The set, designed and built by technicians and students at the University of Lincoln, along with the campaign film and information, will remain on public display at the Waterside for several weeks.
Have you seen the campaign set at the Waterside Shopping Centre in Lincoln?
In support of our new ‘When am I going home?’ campaign the set used in the campaign film has been re-built in Lincoln’s Waterside Shopping Centre. We would love your feedback. Please complete our survey
For more information on hospital discharge and what happens after, visit: lincolnshire.icb.nhs.uk/ when-am-i-going-home/
Photo caption: The set used in the ‘When am I going home?’ campaign film, designed and built by technicians and students at the University of Lincoln, been re-built in Lincoln’s Waterside Shopping Centre, where it will be on display for four weeks.
Published 22/05/2023