Hospital Discharge

Ask for a copy of your discharge letter before you leave. These are usually written in advance of your discharge. Check that it accurately reflects any new diagnoses, follow-up plans, or medication changes you’ve been told about.

Make sure you leave with at least a two-week supply of any medications. It can take time for the hospital discharge letter and any new prescriptions to be processed by your GP.

Know how to contact the clinic if you need to chase up a follow-up appointment.

If you’ve been given any medical equipment, find out who to contact if there’s a problem.

Ensure you’ve been shown how to set up and use any new medical devices before leaving the hospital.

If new medications need to be started urgently, ask the hospital doctor to write down the changes and provide clear instructions in the summary for you to bring to your GP. We cannot make changes to your prescriptions until we receive written communication from the hospital.

If you need time off work, ask the hospital to issue a sick note before discharge.

If you’ll need support at home (e.g., carers or community nursing), make sure this has been arranged before you leave.

If you have a wound or stitches that need follow-up, contact the GP surgery as soon as you’re discharged to book an appointment.