"Discharge from Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen"

Recently my relative was advised that she was to be discharged home following physiotherapy and occupational therapy assessment considered her fit for discharge. She had extensive reconstructive surgery on her left shoulder (reverse total arthroplasty), right wrist (plate repair to distal fracture) and her left leg remains in a brace with restricted movement where there was a below knee fracture and had been in in ARI 212, orthopaedics until transfer to Woodend Links Assessment.  My relative lives alone and on the suggestion that she could be discharged home was advised that her family would be able to support her over the weekend. Both son and daughter-in-law work full time and have 2 school age children; a further daughter lives 370 miles away. Subsequently, discharge was planned for a few days later, with my relative being taken home by occupational therapy staff with the intention that they make some assessment of home circumstances on the day, with provision of adapted support equipment hopefully the same day. There was no home assessment carried out during the discharge planning and son had to reconfigure sitting room and take measurements of seat, bed, toilet heights in order that appropriate equipment could be considered. With reduced mobility and restricted upper limb activity, how a person is meant to just get on with it at home from what is frankly considered premature discharge is just not acceptable. Requests were made by son to have discharge coordinator and occupational therapy make contact, which did not transpire.