A HEALTHWATCH group says vulnerable patients are still being discharged from hospital without the right support in place, despite ongoing efforts to improve the process across Mid and South Essex hospitals reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
The organisation reported last year that a growing number of “failed” or unsafe discharges from Basildon, Southend and Broomfield hospitals had left some patients without care, medication or follow‑up instructions.
In an update to Thurrock Council’s adult and health services overview and scrutiny committee, Healthwatch Thurrock’s chief operating officer Kim James said the same issues continued to surface.
Ms James told councillors that Healthwatch was often forced to intervene because hospitals, GP practices and community teams were unaware a patient had been sent home.
She said: “Sometimes community services aren’t even aware that the patient is home, or the GP doesn’t know.
“We get family members who are really concerned that their mother has suddenly arrived home when they live miles away and didn’t know she was due home. Care agencies often haven’t been alerted, so they don’t pick up the care package.”
One resident reported that his 91‑year‑old mother, who has dementia, was discharged without the family being told.
She wandered outside after returning home, and a neighbour had to raise the alarm, it was claimed.
“He didn’t even know she was home and thought she was still in hospital,” Ms James said.
Other residents said they had been sent home with dressings or medical supplies but no explanation on how to use them.
Ms James said patients were also calling GP surgeries for dressing changes, only to find no appointments available for up to three weeks.
Mid and South Essex Hospital Trust chief executive Dawn Scrafield said even isolated cases were unacceptable. “Just having one patient in that situation is not right,” she said.
Cherry West, managing director of Basildon Hospital, said improvements were underway, including successful winter initiatives to speed up safe discharges and reduce bed occupancy.
She added: “The fantastic work that’s been going on around the Integrated Care Transfer Hub, it’s just been phenomenal.
“And if we compare the number of patients that are now delayed and waiting discharge compared to last year, the numbers have come down significantly.
“I looked at the data this morning and they were actually zero discharge delays for Thurrock residents. So, there is a fantastic joint work that’s going on with Thurrock and us as a hospital, I think there’s always more for us to learn and always more for us to do.”
