Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what communications they regard as necessary with carers, or future carers, before patients are discharged from hospital.

The involvement of patients and their carers is central to timely and appropriate discharge from hospital. Each hospital’s discharge policy should set out how patients and carers will be involved and discharge arrangements discussed.

Discussions should include providing full information about the options available and supplying patients and carers with a discharge plan.