Table Box 3.

 Belfast patients’ concerns about early discharge

Nine patients disclosed concerns which they did not explicitly link to early discharge, but which were consequences of it, including:

Still feeling ill or wanting more clinical care when discharged

I was discharged the second day after the operation, the second morning, really a day and a half. I was glad to get out but I wasn’t feeling great at the time (B7)

This time I thought, should I apply for sleeping tablets or something. You know but I never got em. I just carried on. It wasn’t so much pain, just uncomfortable, you’re tossing and turning all night (B13)

Needing support or information about how they should look after themselves

I’d always the option of phoning the hospital you know but I thought they’d be better… if I’d a had maybe you know a physio call me once a month or every couple of weeks or something. You know just to advise you on what’s best to be putting on or what exercises you’re doing on it. I thought it’d have made your recovery a lot quicker and better (B7)

I rang the ward and … the sister … just said ‘well why didn’t he look at the information before he went home’, you know, this sort of thing, but I knew she was busy. I know it’s a very busy, but she didn’t have time to really, you’re a person on the other end of the phone and you’re a wee bit concerned (B10)

Needing information about how carers should look after them

Maybe that would be a help. If you could spend a half day with us and this is what we’re going to show you what you’ll be able to, you know, what you’ll have to do after. I mean that would – at least the carer would know exactly what’s going to happen (B10).