I am being discharged from hospital, what are my housing options?

Pages in I am being discharged from hospital, what are my housing options?

  1. 1. You are here: Before and after discharge
  2. 2. Exploring your housing options

1. Before and after discharge

Expected date of discharge (EDD)

Once doctors decide what treatment you need, they should have an idea of your likely discharge date (referred to as EDD) which they should share with you and your carer/family. Your EDD is reviewed regularly and you should be notified of any changes.

Discharge assessment

  • When you are being discharged from hospital, an assessment is carried out which determines if you need care after you leave.
  • Each hospital has its own discharge policy
  • Your ward should follow any discharge protocols which are set between the hospital and local authority
  • You / your carer / your family should be fully involved in the assessment process
  • If you are finding it difficult to understand information and/or making decisions and you have no family or friends to support you; hospital staff must arrange for an independent advocate to help you.
  • You should not be discharged until the doctor responsible for your care has approved you to be medically fit and safe for discharge and the care package you require is in place.

Minimal discharge

  • When your assessment determines you will need little or no care

Complex discharge

  • When your assessment determines you specialised care after you leave hospital.
  • You will receive a detailed care plan stating your health and social care needs

Planned discharge

If you know you are going to be homeless at the time of discharge, it is important you contact the Council on 01737 276 790 to organise a planned discharge. This allows the Council to work with you earlier on to help you secure accommodation once you are discharged.

Preparing for discharge

Before you are discharged, the hospital staff must make sure you have:

  • clothes to go home in
  • money
  • front door key/s
  • someone to collect you or a taxi / hospital transport has been booked
  • and your carer has a copy of your care plan (if applicable)
  • and your carer understands any new medicines and you’ve been given a supply to take home (if applicable)
  • been shown how to use any new equipment, aids or adaptions you need (if applicable)
  • incontinence products (if applicable)
  • evidence that your GP is aware of your discharge
  • arrangements for you to be seen by a District Nurse (if applicable)

Brick by brick

Bricky by brick NHS website resources to support mental health hospital-to-home discharge planning for autistic people and people with a learning disability – protocol document and housing needs assessment templates.

Your discharge plan

Staff should create a discharge plan which they provide you a copy with and send a copy to your GP promptly.

A discharge generally includes information such as:

  • Details about your condition
  • Information about medicines
  • Contact information after discharge: who to contact and how to contact them with any questions about your care
  • Arrangements for continuing social care support, aids and equipment
  • Arrangements for ongoing health support
  • Details of useful community and voluntary organisations

After discharge

  • Your care should be monitored and reviewed as stated in your Care Plan
  • Your Care Plan should contain details of who to contact if the plan isn’t working