Leaving Hospital
This leaflet explains what you need to know about leaving hospital.
Before you leave hospital
Check that you have asked the doctor or nurse about anything you don’t understand
Check that you know what should happen next.
Write it down.
Ask the nurse if there is anything you do not understand
Ask who to go to if you have any more questions or problems when you get home
Write it down.
Ask a nurse about joining a support group if you want to join one.
Ask a nurse if you want to see copies of letters written about you and your hospital visit.
Going home
The nurse will tell you when you can go home.
The nurse will give you the medicine you need to take home.
The nurse will tell your family and friends.
The hospital will send a letter about your stay to your doctor.
The nurse will help you sort out how you can get home.
When you get home
Write down what you talked about and what happens next.
Keep your notes.
If you want to tell the hospital if you felt happy or sad about your stay, write it down and tell the nurse who looked after you.
Follow up meeting and results
Follow up meeting and results If you have a test or a follow-up meeting, put the date in your diary. Or make sure your carer knows about this.
If you have not heard about your follow up meeting after a few days, ask what’s happening.
If you have had a test you should be given the results.
If you don’t get the results ask when you will get them.
If it is not clear, ask what the results mean.
Remember, it is important you understand what the doctors say to you and what you must do to get better.
About this leaflet
Author: Jo Findlay Learning Disability and Mental Capacity Act Advisor
Written: August 2020
Approved: August 2020
Review date: August 2023
Edition: v1
If you have feedback regarding the accuracy of the information contained in this leaflet, or if you would like a list of references used to develop this leaflet, please email patientinformation.leaflets@dchft.nhs.uk