Help please lovely people. What are those magic words

[300XLTriColour]

What are the words you need to say to hospitals when they want to discharge someone without there being adequate care in place at home? I’ve read it here before that there is a useful phrase which effectively triggers more assessment of needs.

Elderly frail dad with Alzheimer’s gone to hospital this morning after a fall. I assume he’ll be kept in but my mum is likely to go down the route of “it’s fine to discharge him home” and the reality is she can no longer care for him properly and he need to be assessed and a package put in place. I know hospitals are keen to discharge elderly patients because Covid and want to make sure something is in place. Parents will resist a care home i think.

You could raise a safeguarding concern. Not sure that is what you are looking for, but worth a try.

I work in law with elderly clients, and that is what I would be doing in your circumstances xx

Care plan.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/care-after-a-hospital-stay/arranging-care-before-you-leave-hospital/

I think it's an unsafe discharge - someone will hopefully be along to confirm

You need to say it is not safe to discharge him home until a Care Plan is put in place. This will involve all concerned parties including professionals involved in his care. The plan should include what care is needed, how often and how it will be provided.

Thank you so much! Unsafe discharge was what I was looking for and the pointers re care plan are so useful. Thank you again.

I've had an elderly relative in hospital twice during lockdown and both occasions looked to be totally normal admissions and discharges. There was no sign of anything being rushed or them wanting not to admit or to hurry them out. The only thing that was different was that there was no visiting.

Round here discharges have not had to be rushed because hospitals have capacity and separation between covid and non-covid has been well managed.

If he’s in because of a fall he’s very likely to be assessed before he goes home anyway, or he might be discharged to assess ie he goes home but the assessment happens within a day or so at most. If he’s had other falls make sure you mention those too, and definitely bandy around ‘care assessment’ and ‘unsafe discharge’ and say clearly you have every reason to believe he will fall again as soon as he gets home.