Hospital discharge is one of the key priorities in Healthwatch South Tyneside’s 2026-27 Operational Plan after engagement with local people highlighted public concerns.
They include the lack of care plans put in place when needed and a lack of communication with family members.
We have launched an online survey to find out about your – or your relative/friend’s – experience of hospital discharge.
Questions include information about the ward you were you discharged from, if you had an expected or predicted discharge date and whether you had to wait beyond this date.
The survey also asks whether you felt involved in decisions made for your discharge from hospital and if you were involved in your care plan.
It also includes questions about whether you had the opportunity to discuss with a member of staff any worries or fears about your discharge or if you were given a contact number on the day of discharge if you had any concerns.
Finally the questionnaire asks about your experience in the discharge lounge.
The aim of the research is to inform improvements in the hospital discharge experience in South Tyneside, as Chair of Healthwatch South Tyneside John Lowther explained: “A better patient experience of hospital discharge is paramount in our work.
“For those who need greater support, the input of family and carers will also be key to understanding the gaps and the challenges to overcome in the current system. I’d urge any local patients who have recently been discharged from hospital, or their relatives/friends if more appropriate, to take part in our survey and tell us about your experience.”
The survey can be completed here: surveymonkey.com/r/KMS2TWB
