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Discharge

Kel5c4a5e
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Hello,

My friend has cancer in her brain and is currently in hospital.  She needs to discharged to a care home due to losing cognitive function.  She has teen-age children.  The care home the hospital want to send her to is very far away from their home and the family will struggle to see her.  They haven't really had a meeting with the discharge planning team and have just been told she needs to be out of the hospital.  What are the sort of questions they should be asking and who is the best person to request a meeting with to discuss their options?

  • Hello  

    Thank you for reaching out to the Macmillan Online Community, my name is Katie and I am a Cancer Information and Support Advisor. I’m sorry to hear about your friend’s health, it sounds like there is such a lot going on for her and her family, just now. You mention that the hospital are looking at her going to a care home which is very far away and I imagine this must be a worry for her family – have the hospital explained why this care home has been chosen? Have you family been able to talk to the hospital to explain their concerns with her being so far away from home and family? It is important for them to arrange a meeting to talk through their concerns as it is vital to be able to express this before she is discharged out of the hospital’s care. The family are able to talk through the discharge with the hospital, this would usually be with the nurse who is in charge of her care or there may even be a specific person who deals with discharging patients.

    We have some guidance around this, and I feel it would be beneficial to read through this and pass this onto your friend’s family.

    Macmillan guidance for leaving hospital and the discharge plan - Going home from hospital | Macmillan Cancer Support  within this guidance it explains the process, who should be involved with the discharge from hospital, questions to ask and links to PALS for anything that may need escalating through the NHS. I hope you find this helpful.

    How are your friend’s family feeling about everything? This is a lot for them to be managing, just now. If they require any emotional support, information for access services they are more than welcome to reach out to us here. We’re here 7 days a week 8am-8pm they can call our helpline on 0808 808 0000, through Chat online | Macmillan Cancer Support and Email the Macmillan Support Line - Macmillan Cancer Support. This is the same for you too, should you need to talk to us about how you are feeling, you are more than welcome to.
    I also thought it beneficial to link some emotional guidance for you and her family to take a look at- Emotional support for family and friends | Macmillan Cancer Support.

    Please take care, and reach out should you need to.

    Katie, Information and Support Adviser

    Remember you can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or by email.

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