Healthwatch Derbyshire Column: What we’ve learned about leaving hospital - and what comes next

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Healthwatch Derbyshire
Column By Helen Henderson, Chief Executive, Healthwatch Derbyshire

“At some point, most of us will leave hospital, either after a short stay or a life-changing event. For many, this is a time of mixed emotions: relief, anxiety, and questions about what comes next.

Working together with Joined Up Care Derbyshire partners, over the past year, we’ve been focusing on hospital discharge — and what that experience is really like for local people.

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As we draw this project to a close, I want to reflect on what we’ve learned, what resources we’ve created and how we’ve shared it.

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Helen Henderson

At the heart of the project is Pam’s Story, a fictional comic strip based on the real experiences of patients and carers across Derbyshire. Pam takes us on a journey from her hospital admission to her recovery at home, highlighting some of the challenges people often face: feeling unprepared, confused, and unsure about the next steps in her care.

To support recovery and promote confidence, we also developed a ‘Move to Improve’ activity sheet. This simple guide shows easy movements that can help people keep their muscles strong, whether they’re still in hospital or settling in back at home. It’s been really well received by patients and professionals alike.

A discharge information pack has also been developed, to be given to patients, their families and carers, to help them have all the information they need about their care, in the way they need it.

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Another key thing is the ‘Working Together’ guide. This guide is a handy resource which shows step-by-step, how services can work with volunteers and members of the community, to help shape services from the ground up.

What we've learned about leaving hospital by Helen Hendersonplaceholder image
What we've learned about leaving hospital by Helen Henderson

Our project report brings everything together — the feedback we heard, the themes that emerged, and our recommendations for improving the discharge process.

We’ve shared all the resources widely with health and care partners, and hope it contributes to positive changes across the system.

But our work isn’t finished. Joined Up Care Derbyshire are still inviting people who have recently left hospital, or supported someone who has, to tell us about their experience by completing a short online survey. Every response helps us keep raising awareness and pushing for improvements.

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You can access the comic, download the exercise sheet, read the report, and learn more about the project here: www.healthwatchderbyshire.co.uk/reports-and-publications/improvements-for-people-leaving-hospital

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their story so far. We’d also like to thank the partners across Joined Up Care Derbyshire that contributed to this project.

It’s only by listening to local voices that we can make health and care services truly work for the people who use them.”

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