What to Expect When Your Relative Is Discharged From Hospital

A hospital admission is stressful. Discharge can be equally so — particularly when it feels sudden, or when you are left wondering whether your relative is really ready to go home. This guide explains what should happen, what you are entitled to, and what to do if things do not go to plan.

What the Hospital Should Provide

Before your relative is discharged, the hospital should ensure the following are in place:

• Discharge letter — a summary of the admission, treatment received, and any follow-up required. A copy should be sent to the GP automatically.
• Medication — a supply of any new or changed medications, usually for at least 7 days. Check what has changed and make sure you understand the new regime.
• Equipment — any mobility aids, wound dressings or equipment needed at home should be arranged before discharge.
• Follow-up appointments — outpatient appointments, community nursing visits or GP follow-up should be arranged and confirmed in writing.
• Care referrals — if the person now needs home care they did not have before, the hospital should refer to adult social care or arrange interim support.
• Transport — if the person cannot use public transport or a family car due to their condition, patient transport may be arranged. Ask the ward about this in advance.

Discharge to Assess — Free Short-Term Care

The Discharge to Assess (D2A) pathway provides free short-term care at home (typically up to 6 weeks) to allow someone to be safely discharged while their longer-term care needs are assessed at home rather than in hospital. This care is funded — it does not come out of your relative's savings or income.

D2A applies to people who are medically fit for discharge but whose care needs are not yet fully established. If your relative fits this description:

• Ask the discharge coordinator or ward nurse whether D2A applies
• You do not have to arrange or pay for care during this period
• An assessment of longer-term needs will be carried out during the D2A period — this may result in council-funded care, a recommendation for self-funded care, or a finding that the person can now manage independently

After D2A ends, if ongoing care is still needed, a Needs Assessment under the Care Act 2014 will determine what, if any, council-funded support is available. Alternatively, privately funded care (from a provider like Ekvarta) can continue.

If Discharge Feels Unsafe

Hospital staff are under significant pressure to discharge patients promptly. This is generally appropriate — hospitals are not safe environments for extended stays — but occasionally discharge is proposed before a patient is truly ready.

If you believe discharge is unsafe:

1. 1

   Speak to the Ward Manager or Sister

   Raise your concern directly and clearly. Explain specifically what you are worried about — not a general objection, but a specific concern about the person's safety or care needs at home.

2. 2

   Ask for a Formal Review

   Ask for the discharge decision to be reviewed by the consultant. If the person lacks capacity, their best interests must be properly considered under the Mental Capacity Act.

3. 3

   Contact PALS

   Every NHS hospital has a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) — a free, confidential service that can help raise concerns informally and facilitate conversations between families and clinical teams. Ask at the main reception or check the hospital website.

Setting Up Care Quickly

If your relative will need home care after discharge and it has not been arranged, do not wait. Ekvarta can typically set up a care package within 24 to 48 hours — including urgent same-day requests in some circumstances. Contact us on WhatsApp with basic details and we will respond promptly.

If council-funded care has been arranged via D2A or Needs Assessment, this will be co-ordinated by the discharge team. If you are funding care privately (or via Direct Payments), contact providers directly as early as possible — ideally before discharge, not on the day.

Warning Signs to Watch For in the First Week Home

The first week after hospital discharge carries an elevated risk of complications. Contact NHS 111 if you notice:

• Increased confusion or drowsiness — particularly if new or worsening
• Not eating or drinking adequately
• A fall
• Signs of wound infection — redness, swelling, warmth, discharge, fever
• New or worsening chest pain, breathlessness or palpitations
• Significant change in mood or behaviour
• Side effects from new medications

Call 999 for anything that feels like an emergency — do not wait.

The discharge summary should contain a number to call if you have concerns — keep it somewhere accessible. And keep a note of what medication has been taken and when — in the early days, it is easy for this to become confused.