Galway University Hospitals highlight the importance of Planning Your Discharge from Hospital

Galway University Hospitals (GUH) is highlighting the importance of Planning Your Discharge from Hospital with its new patient and service-user booklet designed to improve communication and understanding of care plans following discharge from hospital.

Galway University Hospitals, in partnership with University of Galway and service users, have launched a new Patient Information and Discharge Booklet designed to improve communication with patients and carers throughout their hospital journey. The involvement of service users in the design and development of the booklet is a key feature of the initiative. Their direct experiences and feedback helped shape the content and practical features of the booklet, ensuring that it responds to the information needs of patients and carers in a meaningful and accessible way.
One new key feature includes the ‘My Notes’ section, which provides service users with dedicated space to document their own hospital journey. This includes dedicated space to write down the names of their consultant-led medical teams, important information about their care and details of relevant contacts and supports available to them following discharge. This personalised section enables patients to retain important information in one place and provides a practical reference for themselves and their carers after leaving hospital.

The booklet also places a strong emphasis on encouraging patients to ask questions and actively participate in conversations about their care. It incorporates the health literacy tool ‘Ask Me 3’, which encourages and reminds patients to ask three simple but important questions: What is my main problem? What do I need to do? Why is it important for me to do this? The inclusion of this approach aims to promote a culture where patients feel comfortable asking questions and seeking clarification about their diagnosis, treatment, medication, follow-up care and recovery.

“Planning Your Discharge From Hospital” booklet includes checklists covering going-home supports, discharge planning, the day of discharge, my medicines, side affects, my notes, follow up appointments, common problems after discharge and safety at home.

Niamh O’ Brien, Patient Advice and Liaison Coordinator at GUH said, “Hospital admission and discharge can be stressful and unsettling experiences for patients, as well as their families, carers, friends and relatives. This booklet has been re-developed to provide helpful information and guidance to support patients in preparing for their discharge from hospital and to ensure that appropriate support is in place when they return home.

“The medical or surgical team will identify an anticipated discharge date, which will be recorded on the front of the booklet. Discharge planning begins from the time of admission, allowing patients and their families to consider and identify any support they may need following discharge. The aim of this booklet is to help patients become active participants in their discharge planning, understand what arrangements may be required, and work with the healthcare team to ensure they have the appropriate supports in place when they leave hospital.”

Dr Verna McKenna, Health Promotion Research Centre, University of Galway, said, “A major strength of this initiative is that the booklet has been informed directly by the experiences and needs of service users. By involving patients and carers in its development, we have been able to create a resource that is practical, relevant and focused on what people need to know during their hospital journey and when preparing to return home.”

James Fleming, Service User involved in the development of the new booklet said, “When you are in hospital, there can be a lot of information to take in, and it can be difficult to remember everything when you get home. Being involved in developing the booklet allowed me to share what I felt would have been helpful from a patient’s perspective. Having a place to write down important information, questions, appointments and contacts means patients have something they can refer back to. I hope it will help people feel more informed, confident and involved in their own care and discharge planning.”

Chris Kane, Hospital Manager at Galway University Hospitals, said, “This booklet is an excellent example of what can be achieved when patients and service users are placed at the centre of service improvement. The direct input of service users, combined with the expertise of University of Galway researchers and GUH staff, has resulted in a resource that is designed around the real needs of patients. Discharge is a particularly important stage in a patient’s journey. Before leaving hospital, it is important that patients understand their follow-up care arrangements, which may include outpatient appointments, Public Health Nurse visits, home support or other community services. Hospital teams will work with patients to ensure that the appropriate supports are arranged before they are discharged with this booklet, we hope that it will empower patients to be active participants in this process."

Click here to view/download a copy of the new booklet.