We know that it’s much better for your physical and mental wellbeing to leave an acute hospital as soon as you are medically ready to do so. That’s why we are doing everything we can to reduce prolonged hospital stays and ‘get you home to what matters to you’, this can be to your beloved pet, your favourite armchair or simply using your own tea bags again. If you can’t go straight home, we will work with you to provide an alternate place most suited to your needs.
Once we are happy that you can be discharged, your hospital bed will become available to another person who needs a high level of care.
When you no longer need hospital care, it is better to continue your recovery at home or at another location in the community. This is because:
As soon as you arrive in hospital, our main priority is to get you better again so you can return to the comfort of your own home, or a suitable alternate place.
Your nurse will be responsible for planning your care and discharge with you and your family/carer. To read more about your time in hospital visit: About your stay and discharge – United Lincolnshire Hospitals (ulh.nhs.uk)
Never be worried about speaking to staff in charge of your discharge to make sure you have everything you need. This includes a date, care plan and equipment. It is also very important that you ask 4 questions every day when you see the team caring for you:
You’ll be involved in the discharge planning and agree a care plan together. This should include things like: