Hospital Discharge Planning Checklist

Hospital discharges go wrong quickly and often, usually because they are arranged in a hurry on a ward under pressure to free the bed. Under the discharge to assess model, longer-term needs are assessed at home rather than in hospital, which works well when the support arrives and badly when it does not. Families are frequently asked to make permanent decisions from a bedside with very little information. Use this checklist to make sure nothing critical is missed before the discharge happens.

Ask these questions before the discharge date is set

A safe discharge needs a plan, not just a date. Ask what support has actually been arranged, who is providing it, when it starts, and what happens overnight and at weekends. Ask specifically whether short-term reablement or intermediate care applies — it is commonly provided free for a period to help someone regain independence, and it is often the difference between going home successfully and being readmitted within a fortnight.

  • Before discharge: confirm medication and who will administer it, equipment and adaptations, transport home, and how the person will get in if keys or access are an issue.
  • Ask about funding: request an NHS Continuing Healthcare checklist where health needs are complex, unpredictable or unstable, and a Care Act needs assessment from the council otherwise.
  • For the family carer: ask for a carer's assessment. It is a separate right and it should not depend on the patient consenting to their own.

Do not agree to a permanent care home placement from a hospital bed if you can avoid it. Decisions made under discharge pressure are rarely the best ones, and a short-term placement or a period of reablement keeps the options open.

If you believe the proposed discharge is unsafe, say so clearly and in writing to the ward and the discharge team, and ask for it to be recorded in the notes.

Before the discharge decision

0 of 6 complete

Equipment and adaptations

0 of 6 complete

Care arrangements

0 of 6 complete

Medication and follow-up

0 of 7 complete

Welfare and finances

0 of 6 complete

Helpful organisations

Age UK

Charity

The country's leading charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life, providing advice, support, and companionship.

Visit website0800 678 1602

Citizens Advice

Charity

Provides free, confidential, and independent advice on a wide range of issues including benefits, housing, debt, and employment.

Visit website0800 144 8848

Frequently asked questions

Can the hospital discharge someone against the family's wishes?
A hospital can decide a patient is medically fit for discharge, and beds are under pressure, but it must plan the discharge with the patient and those involved in their care, and it cannot simply send someone home to nothing. If you believe the arrangements are unsafe, put your concerns in writing to the ward manager and the discharge coordinator, ask for them to be recorded, and contact the hospital's Patient Advice and Liaison Service, which can escalate quickly.
Do we have to pay for care straight after discharge?
Not always. Reablement and intermediate care are commonly provided free for a defined period after a hospital stay, and NHS Continuing Healthcare is free and not means-tested where health needs are the primary need. Beyond that, a council financial assessment determines what you contribute. Ask what is being provided under which heading and for how long, because families often start paying privately for support that would have been free for the first weeks.
What if the person cannot decide for themselves?
Decisions must be made in their best interests under the Mental Capacity Act, involving family and anyone with legal authority. If someone holds a registered health and welfare Lasting Power of Attorney, they should be consulted and can consent on the person's behalf. Where nobody has authority and there is no family to consult, an independent mental capacity advocate should be instructed. Ask what capacity assessment was carried out and for what specific decision.
What can we do if the care package does not arrive?
Contact the council's adult social care team and the hospital discharge team immediately and put it in writing, stating what was promised and what is actually happening. Ask for an urgent reassessment if needs have changed since discharge. If the failure causes harm or leaves someone unsafe, use the council's complaints procedure and then the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. Keep a dated log of every call, because it becomes the evidence for the complaint.

Related guides

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Disclaimer

This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always check official sources and seek qualified help where needed.