Regarding concern at East Lancashire hospital patients being sent home confused (LT, May 10), ward staff will refer to social services as soon as a patient is medically fit for discharge but requires ongoing support at home.

They cannot discharge until this is in place although again, it does happen and more often than it should.

If social services drag their heels in arranging assessments and care, they are fined by the day for “bed blocking”.

Likewise, if hospitals try to boot someone out of hospital before they’re medically fit, an unsafe or inappropriate discharge notification is made.

It’s still unacceptable to know so many people haven’t a clue what they’re supposed to do with meds, follow-up appointments or what the general plan of action is when they leave hospital, but there are systems in place to make sure elderly, confused patients are not sent back home at 2am and without anyone knowing.

Parly via email