"Failed Discharge"

Thank you for your feedback. We value all feedback as a way of acknowledging and improving the care given to patients and families in our care.

On behalf of Ward A22, we are so sorry that you lost your grandfather following his most recent admission to hospital. I appreciate that this has been a distressing time for you all.

Your feedback concerned me because our speciality is Acute Medicine for frail older people and our team aim to put the safety of the patient first. This includes safe discharges.

I have discussed his discharge home with the consultant and medical team who cared for your grandfather and the team said that he was fit for discharge. Your grandfather had been seen the morning of discharge by the medical team who were satisfied that he was able to maintain his oxygen levels consistently.

Inpatient falls may predict a discharge home to be unsafe and efforts to reduce the risk of harm from this would be made. However, your grandfather did not fall whilst in A22. During discussions to update his family the medical team and family agreed that he was frail, and your grandfather was keen to go home and capable of making his own decisions.

I understand that the consultant in charge of your grandfather’s care has spoken with your family and we sincerely hope that this has helped you all to understand the rationale behind his discharge from hospital. If you feel that you would like to discuss this in further detail, please do not hesitate to contact our Patient Relations department on fv.complaints@nhs.scot