Evidence Bites: Patient Discharge

An evidence summary inspired by safety discussions held at the Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s Safety Summit

Why is patient discharge a safety issue? A 2016 report published by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsmen found that some NHS patients were being discharged unsafely from hospital. Case studies highlighted that patients were being discharged before they were well enough to go home, without a home care plan and without informing their family and carers. NICE’s social care guidance, ‘Transition between inpatient hospital settings and community or care home settings for adults with social care needs’ aimed to address these concerns and gaps in care.

Date of publication: Mar 2018

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