"Stressful discharge process"

I was referred by Ayrshire & Arran to Golden Jubilee Hospital. I had a surgical procedure in January 2018. Discharge co-ordinator said that as I lived alone I would have to stay at GJH until support could be arranged, which could be the next week.- I was required to keep my foot elevated for two weeks and only get up for essential tasks - I was therefore unable to prepare and carry hot meals etc and could not shower. I had an apt to return to GJH in February. 

I was aware of the work in Ayrshire & Arran around Integration of Health and Social Care and understood that a discharge team to offer Community Care was operating from a hub at Biggart. 

Family members could support me in my home on Saturday and Sunday, but all were due at work on the Monday.. Discharge co-ordinator told me the day after my operation in January at 1030 that they had phoned Biggart and set the referral in motion. The next stage would be a return call to them. They told me at 5.15 that they had finished work for the weekend and had not received any further contact. I opted to come home as my daughter was coming for me at 6pm and I was confident that this new team would have it sorted out by Monday

The GP discharge letter was delivered to the GP practice so when the bandages started unravelling on my foot, I had a telephone consultation with my GP on Monday January and they arranged District Nurse support.

On Tuesday at 1230pm I had a phone call from someone who identified themselves as a social worker with SAC. They went through a long list of options of support and I said the daily delivery of a hot meal would be a great help and I opted for that service and a falls assessment. They said they might be able to get me the meals service at a reduced cost and it might start the next day, Wednesday. I asked how I would make payment and they said they would get back to me in that afternoon with the details and a menu - I heard no more that day. I phoned at 930 on Wednesday to ask what was happening. A very pleasant lady answered as "Community Care Team". She said she could see on the system that it was all set up - the meal service would start that day - and the service was no cost to discharge patients, for a certain number of days. 

The delivery started - food is very good - an OT contacted me and I am now coping well and preparing for my visit to GJH on Friday.

I feel I was under stress with the discharge process caused by lack of communication, delay and misinformation, was this because I was an out of area discharge? Surely the patient journey should be the same standard for all A&A patients, no matter where they are treated?

Keeping in touch

Team work

Daily living support

Treatment