Discharge
All patients admitted must be discharged into the care of a
responsible adult for at least 24 hours post-discharge, as detailed
in ‘National Good Practice on Preoperative Assessment for
In-patient surgery’, Modernisation Agency, March 2003.
At all times the patient will be encouraged to ring the
Treatment Centre if they have any problems. Each patient will be
given written instructions on discharge and a 24 hour contact
number which will be staffed by an experienced trained nurse who
will have access to the patient’s records. The nurse will make a
decision if the consultant needs to be contacted, and if necessary
will arrange admission to the agreed hospital.
All endeavours will be made to manage any complications at the
Treatment Centre. Where the facilities or appropriate levels of
care are not available at the Treatment Centre the patient will be
transferred to an NHS hospital under an agreement with that
Trust.
If the patient requires social services and/or home assessment
by an Occupational Therapist, referral pathways are in place to
ensure that this is identified prior to patient admission. In the
case of Orthopaedic procedures, living aids will be supplied to the
patient and physiotherapy will be continued on an outpatient
basis,
if required. A medical certificate will be issued to patients as
required on discharge from the NHS Treatment Centre.
Discharge summary
A full discharge summary will be sent to the patient’s GP,
written by the Consultant undertaking the procedure at the
Treatment Centre.
Follow-up
Patients will receive a follow-up appointment if clinically
required. A letter of confirmation will be sent in the post where
this is appropriate.