Chesterfield Royal Hospital: Thousands of patients discharged in middle of night

A Freedom of Information Act request has found that in 2014, 1,571 patients were released from hospital between the hours of 11pm and 6am.

This figure increased in 2015 to 1,601, with 720 being discharged in the year to date.

The controversial practice of sending patients home at night was to be investigated by the government, but the practice seems to have continued.

As long ago as April 2012, NHS England medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh called on hospitals to cut down on overnight discharges following a series of cases where vulnerable patients had been left to make their own way home.

Katherine Murphy, Chief Executive of the Patients Association said: “It is simply unacceptable if patients are being discharged from hospital late at night, especially if they are elderly or vulnerable patients.”

•Are you a patient who has been discharged during the night? Maybe you care for someone who has.

Tell us your experiences of what it was like, whether you had your medication and how you got home. Email [email protected], comment below, or contact us via Facebook or Twitter.