Choosing a care home on discharge from hospital: guidance

Annex B: Escalation Letter Template

Date

Patient Name

CHI No

Planned Date Of Discharge:

Dear

I understand that you were assessed as ready for discharge on dd/mm/yy, and it was agreed that your long-term care needs could only be met in a care home.

However, I have been advised that you have been unable to confirm your choices of care home(s), as requested by social work staff at a meeting with you on dd/mm/yy.

OR [select paragraph most suitable to case]

However, I have been advised that your preferred care home(s) do not have vacancies currently available and you are unwilling to move to an interim home, suitable to meet your assessed needs, to wait for your choice to become available.

As you were assessed as ready for discharge on dd/mm, you do not have the right to remain indefinitely in hospital. Long stays in hospital can increase the risk of people losing confidence and independence, and could be detrimental to your health. In addition, in order for the Health Board to meet the care needs of others, the hospital needs people who have finished their medical treatment to be discharged to make way for others who are just starting theirs.

I can now confirm that a suitable interim place has been identified for you in [care home name]. Arrangements will now be made for you to be discharged to this care home on [date].

Yours sincerely

Medical Director