Getting ready to leave

Hospital staff will commence discharge planning on your admission. We aim to discharge you at 10:00 am, allowing other patients to start treatment. We supply you with a discharge plan outlining any equipment, medications, follow-up appointments, or information you need about your recovery or condition when you leave the hospital.

As a patient or carer, ensure you clearly understand all discharge instructions. We will always involve patients in finalising discharge plans.

If you have any questions about your discharge plan, talk to your clinical team before leaving the hospital.

Regardless of how you arrived at the hospital, by ambulance or any other means, you need to organise your own transport to leave the hospital on the day of your discharge.

Ensure you have arranged transport from the hospital the day before your discharge, so you know how you are getting home or to the place where you are staying. Planning your transport in advance helps to avoid unnecessary inconvenience and waiting by yourself and hospital teams.

It is important that you take medication as prescribed when you leave the hospital to assist in recovery and manage your condition. All medication must be taken home, including those brought in with you.

Pharmacists at TQEH will ensure you have been prescribed the correct medication and will educate you on how and when to take them, potential side effects and any changes made to your medications during your hospital stay.

If you have any questions regarding new medications or changes to your current medications, ask the hospital pharmacists before you leave. Medication no longer required by patients can be given to hospital pharmacists so they can be safely disposed of.

Note that all hospital patients, irrespective of their admission status, are obliged to pay for prescribed medication administered through the hospital upon discharge.

Some patients may be issued with medical equipment when you are discharged from hospital. This may be to assist in your recovery, managing your condition and to help you be more independent at home.

Staff will determine what equipment you will require when you leave hospital and will help you organise which department to get it from. Medical equipment supplied could be crutches, a commode chair or more complex equipment like oxygen therapy equipment.

You will also be given instructions on how to properly and safely use discharge equipment when you receive it, and how to return to the hospital once no longer needed.

After you leave TQEH, you may need to return for a follow-up appointment to undergo a check-up or specialist treatment. As you are attending the hospital for an appointment but are no longer required to stay, you are called an outpatient.

You will be advised prior to your discharge of any necessary follow up appointments as an outpatient. It is very important to keep these appointments to make sure you receive the best possible care, after your discharge from hospital.