When you leave

Leaving hospital (discharge)

Before you leave hospital, we will work with you and your family to identify services that will assist in your recovery and plan your discharge to leave hospital. Your discharge plan may include extra support services at a different facility, home or follow up appointments. Please ask your nurse to refer you to the appropriate staff or allied health staff member to help you with your discharge needs.

We aim to have you discharged by 10.00am on the day you go home. Before leaving, you will need to arrange for someone to collect you from the hospital. Please check that you have:

• arranged transport home with a support person prior to discharge
• gathered all personal belongings including valuables in the Trust Office
• collected discharge medications, scripts required and x-rays
• follow-up appointments (if necessary)
• travel forms signed (if necessary)
• a medical certificate for your employer or sickness benefit (available on request from your doctor)
• a medical discharge summary for your general practitioner
• referral forms (if services have been arranged for you).

If you wish to leave the hospital against the advice of your doctor, you will be asked to sign a form to this effect.

Transport and transfers home

You will need to arrange private transport home with a support person. If you require a taxi or other private transport, please notify a staff member and they can help arrange this. Ambulance transport will be organised for you only if your treating team believe it is necessary. If you have any questions regarding your transport home after admission to hospital, please ask your nurse.

There are public transport options available.

Transit lounge

If you cannot be collected by the hospital’s proposed 10.00am discharge time you may be transferred to the Transit Lounge to wait for your support person to pick you up.

Opening hours: Monday-Friday 7.30am-6.00pm
Location: Ground floor to the left of the main hospital entrance
Phone: (07) 3139 5512

Pick up

There are car parks and a 2-minute pick-up bay and taxi rank located outside the main entrance of the hospital.

Walking aids and other equipment are not supplied outside the hospital grounds. The physiotherapist or your family will need to make arrangements to hire appliances or aids from a private supplier.

Medication when you leave

On discharge, the pharmacist will review your medications and discuss with you which medications you will need to take home. The Pharmacy Department will give you 2 copies of your medication list before you leave hospital. One list is for you and the other list is for you to take to your GP. You may need further prescriptions so it is important that you return to your GP before your medications run out.

If you have any questions about your medications, please ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. If you have any questions after you are discharged, you can also ring the hospital pharmacist on (07) 3139 4107 or alternatively ring your GP.

When you have to pay

You may be charged for goods provided by the pharmacy and for any medical aids required during your stay. You will receive an invoice for medications that were ordered for you, for when you leave hospital. You will need to pay for these medications upon discharge.

Concerns after you leave hospital

Contact your GP or 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) if you have any problems after you leave the hospital. If you need urgent care call Triple Zero (000) or visit your local Emergency Department.

Modifying your home

After your hospital visit, you may need to make some home modifications to carry out daily activities and ensure your safety at home. Our occupational therapist may assess and advise or refer you to a community service for a community home visit.

Ongoing care after discharge

If you have any special needs when you return home, please discuss these with your doctor or nurse prior to your discharge. A discharge summary will be sent to your nominated GP and a copy also given to you. This will contain relevant information regarding your stay at The Prince Charles Hospital.

Hospital in the Home

Hospital in the Home is arranged on the ward prior to discharge for ongoing medical care that can be managed in the community. Your ward staff and/or Discharge Coordinator and treating medical team will arrange this referral for you.

Follow up appointments (outpatient appointments)

You may also be given, or sent, an outpatient or Private Practice Clinic appointment following your discharge. It is important that you keep this appointment.

Medical records

Your medical record is confidential and is accessed only by healthcare professionals directly involved with your treatment. The medical record is the property of the hospital, and the information contained in the record will normally only be provided with your consent or where required by law.