Hospitals are discharging frail and vulnerable patients prematurely, leaving them without necessary medical care and unable to care for themselves. The Mail on Sunday has received numerous letters from upset readers who have been denied the support they were promised. These patients have been left bed-bound, unable to wash or dress themselves, and even unable to use the bathroom. The lack of support has had tragic consequences, with some patients receiving minimal treatment and subsequently passing away.
For example, one stroke survivor’s daughter was forced to create a makeshift hospital bed in her living room and provide round-the-clock care for her mother because the local health team failed to provide adequate support. Another case involved a woman having to transport her immobile husband to the hospital daily for vital injections because carers refused to visit their home. The wife of a man who fell off a roof and broke his pelvis and ribs explained the heartbreak of not being able to care for her husband due to her own health issues.
Campaigners argue that the Discharge To Assess protocol, implemented by the government to address bed-blocking, is to blame for these inadequate discharges. The protocol aims to expedite the discharge process, but it often leads to patients being sent home without the necessary support, resulting in readmission to the hospital. This not only overwhelms the NHS in terms of time and resources, but also exposes patients to increased risks of infection and other complications.
According to the Discharge To Assess guidance, patients should only be considered for discharge if they don’t need drips, are not severely unconscious, have significant difficulty breathing, are in the last few hours of life, or require intensive care. Even after major surgeries, hospital managers are instructed to send patients home or to a nursing home within three days. While this protocol has increased the number of same-day or next-day discharges by almost 40% in some areas, critics argue that it is not effectively working.
Under the Discharge To Assess protocol, a nurse or occupational therapist should visit the patient on the day of discharge to assess their new medical needs. The NHS covers the costs of care and other necessary support for up to six weeks, after which further funding can be applied for, or social services can step in. However, Age UK’s Tom Gentry explains that there are many cases where elderly patients are sent home without the appropriate support in place, leading to readmission to the hospital.
The Mail on Sunday conducted a survey asking readers about their experiences of hospital discharge, and the responses were filled with horror stories. One disabled brain tumor patient was discharged a day after a fall and had to wait three months for a promised care package to be provided. Another patient, admitted for pneumonia, was discharged without any care despite having a dangerous fluid buildup in her lungs and a heart condition affecting her breathing.
The article highlights specific cases of negligent discharges that resulted in dire consequences. For instance, Pat Wicks, an 87-year-old stroke survivor, was stuck in a nursing home for two weeks without any assessment or proper care. Her daughter had to take her home and provide care herself, but unfortunately, Pat passed away.
Other readers shared similar experiences, such as being discharged without care and subsequently experiencing severe health complications that required emergency hospitalization. Some patients had promised care packages withdrawn or were sent home with inadequate equipment and support. One patient’s dressing was left loose and bloody after a hip operation, and the promised district nurse never arrived.
In conclusion, hospitals’ premature discharges are leaving vulnerable patients without vital care and support, leading to dire consequences and a significant strain on the healthcare system. The Discharge To Assess protocol, while aiming to expedite the discharge process, does not always ensure the necessary support is provided, resulting in readmissions and increased health risks for patients.
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