When you have a loved one in hospital, we know many family and friends are keen to get them home as soon as they are able to. This is especially the case during the festive and winter period.

To help speed up the discharge process, we have put together our top tips of what families and friends can do to help healthcare organisations get their loved one back with them as soon as they are ready to leave hospital.

How you can help to get your loved one home

  1. Before picking them up, pay a visit to their home to make sure the electric, heating and water are all working. If the heating has been turned off while they have been in hospital, switch it back on to warm the environment, so it is comfortable for them to return to.
  2. Before they return, we’d also encourage you to give their home a clean and tidy. This is not only a kind gesture that will make them feel loved and welcomed, but it also ensures they return to a safe environment. Pay particular attention to any slip or trip hazards and cleaning up anything that may have gone off, such as dirty dishes or removing mouldy food from fridges.
  3. It is also essential to make sure they have a good supply of fresh food and warm drinks available, to keep them nourished while they continue to recover. We’d recommend a balanced diet with sources of carbohydrates (such as higher fibre starchy foods like potatoes, bread or pasta), protein (meat, fish, eggs or beans and pulses), some diary, such as milk or yoghurts, and fruit and vegetables.
  4. Make sure they can make and take telephone calls. This will ensure they can access follow-up care and can ask for any help if they need it.
  5. It is also important that they have access to money.
  6. When picking them up to go home, ensure you bring them some fresh, clean, comfortable and weather-appropriate clothes to wear to travel back in.
  7. When they are ready to travel home, please pick them up in your car or organise for them to be transported if you don’t have a car. You may want to consider taking a taxi or using a volunteer driver service. If you need support, please ask the hospital what options are available.
  8. Finally, when at home, help to explain to them what support is available to them to help their recovery in the community. You may have been given some information or leaflets by a doctor or nurse – or you can look at the Joy website to see what is available close by.

James Mullins, interim executive director of nursing, allied health professionals and  quality at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: “We know that people are always keen to get their loved one back home at any time of the year, but for some it is especially important to do so during the holidays and New Year period.

“We will always do our best to support them to get home and, if we can, we try to discharge our inpatients by lunch time.

“However, you can help our doctors and nurses to release your loved one much more quickly if you follow our top tips, so we can be assured they are returning to a safe environment where they have what they need to support their recovery.”