Why is it so hard to get discharged from hospital?

About 4 years ago I remember going with my DS to collect my DH from hospital.We had been told he was already to go home, so DS waited in the ''free or 30 mins''car parking space while I went to the ward to get DH.
He was dressed, packed and ready but his medications had not been checked yet.It Took an hour for a nurse to come and go over every single drug, he had quite a lot,two were missing so she had to get them. After 20 mins DS came to the ward to see what was happening as parking time nearly up.He stayed for about 10 mins then returned to find a parking fine on the car.
Next time we had to bring DH home, we learned our lesson.DS dropped me off then drove straight of somewhere until I rang to tell him DH and I were now outside the hospital ready to go home.

I am so sorry to hear this Cabbie, there is no excuse for this. I experienced similar inept mismanagement when my Mum was discharged from hospital on a number of occasions.
My advice would be for you to complain to PALS.

My husband was caught like this for nearly 8 hours after they said he could go home, but first the doctor had to visit, then he had to raise a prescription for his medications, then the nurse who was doing all the paperwork was doing each outgoing patient individually one at a time!
During which time the hospital network went down and she then could not print off the requisite paperwork for discharge.
Whereas in the real world if you were an administrator and knew early on in the shift that 4/5 patients were leaving that day that you would prepare and print all their paperwork, have it ready and filed and only awaiting the delivery from the pharmacy so that they could go as soon as everything was okay. Not so at this hospital - and on a day when we were told 17 Ambulances were queuing up outside desperate to drop off their patients and get on with their next job!!
Time and Motion studies would be a good exercise in the NHS to actually see where the issues are and ultimately improve the NHS for everyone - staff and patients alike!

Oh yes so frustrating I could write a book. Mum was once waiting to come home from 10 am 1pm they said she’d have to stay 4 pm changed again she could come home 4.30pm no she couldn’t wrong meds.
They eventually sent her home 3.30am aged 91 very poorly to an empty house without telling anyone. She phoned me herself at that time. Disgraceful!

Oh wow cabbie that is brilliant news - that he's being discharged already.

It seems it's as to get out of hospitals as it is to get into them!

I hope that you are both safely home by now.

If it’s like where my dd works, the various IT systems don’t talk to each other and these things have to be done manually.

It's almost always the pharmacy, not the paperwork, that keeps me waiting.

Obviously unless it's a secure hospital like Broadmoor they can't stop you discharging yourself but it's never really a good idea.

I’m so glad your Dh is well enough to go home, Cabbie, I know you’ve had a very stressful time.

My dd has to do the discharge work for patients and it’s very difficult. She’s constantly called away to crash situations, has to deal with very sick people, staff wanting things signed off, phone calls, pager calls and so on and so forth.

Maybe there could be a better system, with a dedicated person seeing to discharges but I suppose like the rest of the NHS there aren’t enough staff to do that.

Yup, always the same, hospitals are like the Hotel California😄

Unfortunately it seems to be the norm. And was a few year back too. Hope you are home and cosy asap!

I was told I would have to wait to be seen by the doctor before I could go home.
Hours later I saw the consultant pass by the ward I was in. He noticed me stopped for a second and said "oh you can go" and rushed off.

My DH had similar issues about 6 years ago. In the end after waiting in a discharge lounge a very kind nurse on his ward who lived near to us offered to drop off his meds on her way home.
Also had the same last year till in the end he told them I’m going.

Georgesgran

Me too - average wait was 6 hours from various hospitals!

Same for me, waiting for meds. I went home in pyjamas during the pandemic and was wheeled out to the car park in them.
I didn't care, I was so glad to be going home alive and having avoided Covid, after a second heart attack.

But Cabbie, thank goodness he is going home...wishing him well

Me too - average wait was 6 hours from various hospitals!

Ìt is so frustrating .... been there, done that. Spent hours waiting for OH ... in the end they had to keep him.in.

I'm sorry to hear this Cabbie and hope he'll be home soon.

I'm sorry.

I feel your pain…one of my neighbours was kept waiting the whole day for her painkillers after an op she left the hospital in the late afternoon without them and got a taxi home. She later sent her DH to collect the meds. He rode his bike the 5 miles to a central London hospital . He had a puncture and had to call my DH at 9 pm to go and pick him and the bike up ….