Healthwatch writes:
Leaving hospital during Covid-19 highlights the experiences of 35 patients leaving Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, Peterborough City Hospital and Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon between June and August 2020.
And it reveals that some local people did not have the support, equipment and essential information they needed when they got home.
Our Healthwatch recommends changes to the complicated discharge system – which brings together various health and care services.
And now, local hospitals and care services are taking on board the learning from our report to help improve information and support for patients and their families.
In March this year, a new national approach to discharging patients was set up in the wake of coronavirus - aiming to free up hospital beds.
It saw people leave hospital faster by having their ongoing care needs assessed at home.
Our report shows that in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, it worked well for some patients. But for others it has been a poor experience – leaving patients lacking support and equipment.