It’s really important that patients who are well enough to leave the hospital are able to do so safely and quickly. This helps us free up beds, so we can continue to treat the most seriously ill patients as soon as possible.

You can support us by making arrangements to collect your loved one from the hospital as soon as they are discharged.

If you are bringing a loved one home from the hospital, please follow simple steps to help support them, including:

  • Make sure they have their prescription medicines available, or check if they need help picking them up
  • If your loved one needs help while GP practices or pharmacies are closed, NHS 111 is here for them
  • Ensure they have enough to eat and drink
  • Make sure there are no trip hazards to prevent falls
  • Ensure their house is adequately heated and that they have clean bedding
  • Provide emotional support – leaving hospital can sometimes feel overwhelming
  • Know who to contact if you need help

If you’re not able to care for them, and/or need help to do so, then you have a right to a carer’s assessment to have your needs considered too. Check what your local council can offer. Find their websites using the online postcode tool at gov.uk/find-local-council

You can also watch these videos from NHS Cheshire and Merseyside for more tips around bringing a loved one home from hospital. 

Hospital staff will decide when a patient is ready to leave hospital and discuss their discharge plan with them. If a patient needs care and support after they leave, staff will talk with them about how they can get this. They will work with social care staff, if necessary, to plan the patient's short-term care. More information on the Discharge Lounge and leaving hospital is available on our inpatient page here.

There is more NHS England guidance on being discharged from hospital here.