Leaving hospital

Your care team will check what support you will have or may need for returning home after a hospital stay. If you think there might be a problem arranging support, tell your care team. There are hospital staff who can discuss support options for your return home.

Once you have your discharge date, you can organise your transport home. It is a good idea for your support person to travel home with you. You might also ask someone to stay with you at home for a few nights, to make sure you are safe and to grocery shop and prepare meals.

If you normally have home health services, let them know the date you expect to be home, for example:

• district nursing
• home help
• Meals on Wheels.

The usual time for discharge is around 11am. If you have more complex health conditions, it may take longer. You may be moved from the ward to a comfortable lounge while the paperwork for your discharge is completed.

You will be given a discharge letter, summary or form describing:

• your stay in hospital
• your recent illness
• treatment or surgery you had
• follow-up care at home
• treatment you may still need.

Your nurse can discuss this you, your whānau or carer. Now is another chance to ask any questions about:

• what happened in hospital
• what to expect after going home
• how to take your medicines
• how to perform self care tasks.

You may also get a prescription for medicines you need to collect. Sometimes, a prescription is for ‘hospital only’ medicines — you will need collect these from the hospital pharmacy.

Leaving checklist

• Pack all of your belongings, including anything kept for you in a locked cupboard.
• Check the power point next to your bed for any chargers.
• Collect all of your medicines, walking aids and other health aids.

When you are being discharged, and before you leave to go home, check that:

• you have got your written discharge summary or letter — the hospital should also send a copy to your healthcare provider
• the hospital has your correct postal address and contact details for appointments — tell the nurse or ward clerk if you will be staying somewhere else after leaving hospital
• you have asked for any medical or ACC certificates you need to be filled in
• you have got your prescription
• you know when your medicines are next due, and how to take them
• you have a plan for when you restart your regular medicines
• you know who to contact if you have questions or concerns when you get home
• you have got your follow-up appointment information or referral to another service — check you know where to go
• you have got advice on managing any dressings you have
• you have asked all your questions.

It is a good idea to pick up your prescription medicines from the hospital pharmacy or a community pharmacy on the way home from hospital. This will make sure you have the correct medicines with you when you get home.

If you have had day surgery, you will be discharged from hospital as soon as it is safe to do so. You will need a support person to arrange transport and to stay with you. Your support person should feel confident about your needs and who to contact for help.

First 24 hours

It is ideal if someone can stay with you for 24 hours after your day surgery as the anaesthetic effects may last this long. If this is not possible, try to arrange for someone to call you by phone or ask a neighbour to check how you are.

There are 2 different types of anaesthetic:

• a general anaesthetic where you are 'put to sleep'
• a local or regional anaesthetic where you may be awake — sometimes a sedative medicine to help you relax is also given.

Anaesthesia for your surgery (internal link)

You may feel very tired – this can last for a few hours or even for days. This could be because of:

• worry before the operation
• lack of sleep
• discomfort
• blood loss during surgery
• not eating and drinking normally
• your general health before having surgery.

Some common side effects include:

• a sore throat
• feeling sick, dizzy or faint
• headache
• itch
• general aches
• memory loss or a little confusion
• difficulty passing wee (urine).

What to look out for after day surgery:

• bleeding
• infection or fever
• pain not controlled with the pain relief medicines you were prescribed
• shortness of breath, chest pain, pain or swelling in the calves or legs
• severe nausea or vomiting or the inability to eat or drink
• unable to pass wee (urine).

What to do if you are concerned

• Bleeding — if your wound bleeds, apply firm pressure to the wound for 10 minutes with a clean dry cloth. Do not remove the dressing. If the bleeding does not stop, go to the nearest emergency department.
• Infection or fever — if you have a temperature over 38 degrees or your wound feels hot, looks red, is swollen or there is a lot of pus (discharge), there may be an infection. Contact your healthcare provider.
• Pain not controlled with the pain relief medicines you were prescribed — there could be another problem. Phone Healthline 0800 611 116 for advice.
• Shortness of breath, chest pain, pain or swelling in the calves or legs — this may be due to a blood clot. Call 111 for an ambulance.
• Severe nausea or vomiting. Contact your healthcare provider.
• Unable to pass wee (urine) for 6 hours and feel uncomfortable. Phone Healthline 0800 611 116 for advice.

Recovering from surgery can take time. Some people will recover quicker than others. This is normal — it  depends on the treatment you have had.

Ways you can help yourself recover include:

• getting good rest
• eating a healthy diet
• drinking enough water
• starting some light movement when you advised to.

You may feel short of energy for a while, so do what you feel you can manage each day. Small achievements, without trying to do too much, will build your confidence.

You may be uncomfortable, you may have some pain and could feel uncertain about your recovery.

There are services in the community that can support you:

• your healthcare provider
• your community pharmacy.

Call Healthline 0800 611 116 if you need to ask questions or want advice.

Where to get help for mental health. Ngā puna tautoko mō te hauora hinengaro. (internal link)

Some people need additional support after leaving hospital. The hospital or your healthcare provider can contact a coordinator to arrange a needs assessment for you. You can also refer yourself.

A needs assessment is a step towards helping you maintain health and independence in your community and home.

Needs Assessment Services are available for:

• disability needs
• mental health needs
• older people's needs.

• Needs Assessment Service (external link)
• Find your local assessment coordinator — NASCA (external link)
• Making life easier — The eldernet group (external link)

An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) for personal care and welfare is a legal document. It gives someone you trust the power to make decisions about your health and welfare if you are unable to.

You may have talked about an EPA during your hospital stay.

There are a few things to think about, including who is the whānau member or friend you trust to be the attorney. This is the person who would make decisions and act in your interests if:

• a doctor has certified you are mentally incapable of doing this for yourself
• you are unable to communicate your wishes.

You can get help with an EPA once you are home. You may want to find out more.

Enduring Power of Attorney for personal care and welfare — New Zealand Government (external link)

Creating an Enduring Power of Attorney — Office for Seniors (external link)

Setting up an EPA — Ministry of Justice (external link)