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Tips on Hospital discharge and repeat prescriptions

A packet of yellow pills.

Discharge from hospital - winter 2024/25 - Quick tip

When you, or a family member or friend no longer need to be in hospital, it is best to continue your recovery at home or back in the community.

This is because:

  • Being in hospital with unwell patients may expose you to other illnesses.
  • Meaningful assessment of your long-term needs is better made outside hospital.
  • For people aged 80 and over, 10 days in hospital = 10 years of muscle wasting.
  • Other extremely poorly patients may require an urgent hospital bed.

When a loved one is ready to leave hospital, you can help and support their discharge by arranging:

  • Transport home.
  • A set of outdoor clothes.
  • A check on medications.
  • Shopping and meal preparation.
  • Heating at home.
  • Regular checks on relatives at home.

Before driving to pick up a family member or friend from hospital make sure you have their house keys and other essentials (fresh clothes, food) to make their transition from hospital to home as smooth as possible.

Make sure they have the medication they need to aid their recovery.

On their day of discharge, patients can expect to:

  • Go to the discharge lounge where they will wait for their discharge summary and medication
  • Receive a copy of their discharge letter, which includes details of their care, tests, and medications
  • Be given a supply of medication to take home, if applicable
  • Be told who to contact if they have any questions or concerns once they get home.

Repeat Prescriptions - winter 2024/25 - Quick tips

  • Don't leave it too late to get prescription orders in
  • Keep medicine cabinets topped up with essentials
  • Make a note of your pharmacy's opening hours
  • Have a relative or friend to call if a fall occurs.

Medicine cabinet essentials

Medicine cabinet essentials to stock up on this week:

  • Pain relief: aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen
  • Medicine suitable for your children
  • Indigestion remedies, diarrhoea tablets & rehydration salts
  • Thermometer
  • Ice and heat packs for pain.

If you need urgent care visit NHS 111 or call 111.

If you need urgent dental treatment or advice, contact the Lancashire and South Cumbria dental helpline - 0300 1234 010, 8am - 9pm on weekdays, 10am - 5pm weekends and bank holidays.

Outside of these hours visit NHS 111 or call 111.