Korsokof diagnosis and hospital trying to discharge

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My brother has been in hospital for 2 weeks. He is an alcoholic. Although there were no problems with his liver he was admitted as very confused and unable to function. His confusion has remained fir the two weeks with confabulation present. He was diagnosed with korsokoff syndrome yesterday by the hospital psychiatrist and a DOLS order put in place to keep him in hospital fir the next 3 weeks with a possible move to residential rehabilitation. He has no where to live having separated from his partner. The only family he has nearby are our 76 yrold parents. They were told today by a different doctor that my brother had passed a questionnaire type test and would be released into their care tomorrow. They are terrified. They have no idea how to care for him. He doesn’t remember that he doesn’t live at his previous address. I need to act quickly with advice or help. Can anyone help? Can the hospital change its mind like this?

The hospital can change its plans if your brother's condition changes.

However it can't force your parents to house him if they don't want to - they have every right just to say no.

The hospital has no right to say he's going to your parents' home if they don't want him to go there. They're too old to be carers and it sounds as though it would be very difficult for anyone to cope with.

Do you live in England?

It is incredibly difficult to get a funded residential placement for korsokoff (depending what stage he is) - would this be long term supported housing he needs (in which case local authority housing and adult social care) or does he need a specialist unit due to his medical needs? ( In which case your CCG and local authority will need to agree funding).

I would want to know what the questionnaire was and whether he was able to complete on his own.

Also, whether you have a substance misuse service supporting him in hospital and with his rehab application.

Thank you for replying. When I posted yesterday it looked like the post hadn’t posted so I didn’t see them until today. My parents called the hospital again and a nurse they had previously spoken to told them the doctor should not have phoned them and to leave it with her to look into. Apparently it was the same psychiatrist who diagnosed Korsokoff the day before who then carried out another questionnaire/test and changed his mind. He then phoned my brothers expartner to ask if she would have him! And when he got no joy rang my parents. I am worried that he a- hasn’t been informed of any clear diagnosis himself, b- he has nowhere to live and c- he doesn’t know that he no longer lives at his previous address. The problem here is that up until his admission he was living there- he basically wouldn’t leave. But he can’t go back. His partner has a new partner and needs to move on with her life. What can the hospital do to help? Can my brother make his own decisions about help or assistance? Presumably yes unless lacking mental capacity?

It sounds like he needs to be sectioned? Sorry i have no idea what it is that hes been diagnosed with but im assuming its mental due to drinking?.. but it sounds like the hospital are trying to just fob him off due to no funding.. there's more that needs to be done, i cant believe they are phoning around people like that its shocking 😠 I'd be firm and ask where can accommodate him until he's a bit better

If a DOlS is in place he has been assessed as lacking capacity to decide to stay in hospital. He should have a further capacity assessment to decide if he is able to decide where to reside and regarding his care needs. If he doesn't have capacity there should be a Best Interests meeting which will include a social worker.

What do you want the hospital to do? If you suggest a solution I am sure they will listen. However, they can’t not discharge someone if they think that person is well enough to leave?

Thank you for these recent replies. He was kept in hospital once the social worker had seen him and agreed it wasn’t a good idea to discharge him. He has today been given a place at a care home where a care team will be looking after him. He is still confused and his memory is all over the place but he is able to have an almost normal conversation on the phone. We are taking it one day at a time and hoping he makes some improvement and possibly full recovery. It’s all very strange.