Carers Trust has worked with partners NHS England (London), Mobilise, Carers UK, Carers First and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services in London to produce a toolkit designed to help healthcare professionals work with unpaid family carers to improve the overall experience of hospital discharge – both from the patient’s and the carer’s perspective.
What is the toolkit?
The Carers and Hospital Discharge Toolkit for London Hospitals and Community Providers is a guide for professionals designed to help them navigate through various stages of a carer pathway related to hospital discharge. Whilst created by partners in London, and for London Hospitals, it can be used by any hospital across the country that recognises the importance of including and supporting carers in the discharge process.
The toolkit will help hospitals identify carers of all ages; welcoming them as a carer and recognising their vital role in care and discharge. It will help hospitals signpost carers for further support, including statutory Carer’s Assessments and help professionals involve carers in discussions and decisions; through to transition – ensuring carers have a seamless experience when moving through services.
The toolkit provides top tips and checklists for each stage of the pathway and provides links to information, resources and good practice that already exists.
Why is the toolkit important?
Discharge is a vital part of the patient journey in hospital. Done well, it can ensure the patient is well supported in the recovery process, hospitals maintain a good “patient flow” and there is no avoidable readmissions later down the line.
We also know that getting discharge rights has gained national attention and is a top priority for NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
By identifying carers of all ages, welcoming carers as part of the care team, supporting carers at hospital and ensuring they have support after, involving carers in care and the discharge process and ensuring a safe transition of care of the person with support needs to the carer, hospitals are more likely to reduce re-admissions and ensure both patient and carer are properly supported.
The toolkit will help hospitals work with carers and carer organisations to ensure a safe, smooth and successful discharge process.
