Hospital Discharge - how do I insist on help?

Unfortunately the new hospital discharge requirements mean that patients must be discharged as soon as they are clinically well enough, before there is a needs assessment or an agreed care plan.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-hospital-discharge-service-requirements

The guidance says that people should have a full needs assessment within a couple of days of discharge from hospital.

The Coronavirus Act allows for local authorities to not do full needs assessments if they are overwhelmed because of staff absence and/or increased demand. So far eight local authorities (that we know about) have implemented the emergency measures: Solihull, Warwickshire, Middlesbrough, Staffordshire, Birmingham, Sunderland, Derbyshire and Coventry.

www.disabilitynewsservice.com/coronavirus-concerns-over-councils-rushing-to-free-themselves-from-care-act-duties/

The full guidance is here:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-changes-to-the-care-act-2014/care-act-easements-guidance-for-local-authorities

They can't just use the measures as and when, they have to make a proper official decision, keep a record of the decision making process and report it to DHSC. They also have to tell service users and carers that they are implementing the decision.

Assuming your local authority have not implemented the coronavirus measures (if you are not sure then ask) then your mother is entitled to a full needs assessment and you are also entitled to a full carer's needs assessment. You can have these together at the same time if you are both happy to do that.

Good luck OP, it's an incredibly worrying time. Definitely get in touch with AgeUK as well.

The care that was being provided was on social services, don’t they have a duty of care to still go?

Yes, agree put it in writing

How far away are you?

One time my dad was threatened with unsafe discharge, we were able to say that mum wasn’t well enough to look after him and both children approximately two hours away with full time jobs.

You've got no chance op tbh. Discharges are really being pushed. Put it In Writing that you will not support and believe her to be at risk. Nothing else you can do.

Don't agree to anything if you're unsure (this is assuming you're going to be discussing it with them over the phone/ email of course).
We agreed to my dad being discharged, with help arranged by social services, and then had a real battle to get any decent help at all. Once he was sent home from hospital we were left swinging. I was told by a social worker that other people were more in need, so they had priority.

Contact Age UK ?

Ask for a conference call with the discharge team, my hospital has a vulnerable patients team and we were allocated someone from them to help with the discharge, also has he been referred to social services. Before CV, my mum was discharged to a rehab facility who then assessed her/ supported her the get home/ worked out what care she needed. It will also depend on if she would get funding or can afford to pay. Good luck.

Tell them you feel it is a safeguarding issue, keep using that word. Make sure they know you want everything in writing and that you want a named person to sign it. I cannot stress enough how important it is that you get everything in writing.

Are you completely banned from the hospital?

Can you ask to speak to the social worker and tell them it’s an unsafe discharge?