Ensuring safe discharge

[Dibble135]

Mum in hospital for 2nd time in 2 months, this last time because she couldn’t eat and drink sufficiently at home where she lives alone despite me and dsis doing our best to support.

Hospital called tonight with no notice to say come to pick her up. I’ve refused as no care package put in place. She cannot walk independently or wash and dress.

Now told tomorrow OT and physio will take her home to do assessment and arrange package based on need.

My question is this. Is this essentially just a way to get her discharged and she will be left there no matter what?

Does anyone have any experience please?

Also phone adult social care and ask for an urgent care needs assessment under the care act. This will determine if she has long term eligible needs. If she does then a financial assessment will be done and she may be entitled to support towards paying for any care or care home if needed.
Again mention you fear for an unsafe discharge and potential re-admittance

@Needamagicfairy Buckinghamshire ignore their legal responsibilities. I doubt they are alone and what do you do in the meantime? I’ve actually been phoned up and told DM was ready to go and could I come in at 10 am? That was in an hour. Never talked to anyone in the hospital about anything surrounding discharge.

Based on my experience as a care needs assessor mention safeguarding risks a lot. Sending mum home without a package of care is a safeguarding risk, mention their legal responsibilities to show you understand what they are.
Unfortunately I'm a long way from there so no personal experience of their practice to share but for us this would be triaged as 24 urgent assessment needed based on what you have said

Yes. That’s what I would have expected for someone in their mid 90s. The other huge get out clause is that DMs nearest hospital isn’t technically in Bucks. It’s the shit show that’s MK hospital. DM died earlier this year and the only kind people I dealt with were care home staff. Otherwise it was a conveyor belt of indifference and non communication. For weeks on end.

Update - spoke to dr this am. Seem determined to discharge as dm medically fit but physio coming to assess first for care package.

I repeated without that it’s unsafe and she has no support hence why she had to come back so soon. I’ve briefed dm to say same and not try too hard when assessed!

My next concern is it’s like a skating rink outside so I cannot see how dm is going to get to her front door without falling over!

@Dibble135 Medically fit doesn’t mean DM can cope. SS should assess help in the home. I think physio assesses physio needs. OT should also be involved. Which ever way you look at it, it’s going to be very hard to keel
her at home safely.

Update - Assessment done. Plan is discharge Sunday with care package and smaller frame which will fit round house easier. Dm is happy so I’m willing to give it a go for now but ready for something to go wrong…just in case.