Humber and North Yorkshire - System Choice on Discharge Policy - December 2023

Sep 1, 2026

Patient choice is a key driver of timely hospital discharge, yet it can also contribute to delays when people lack knowledge of options or feel uncertain about quality, costs, interim accommodation, and support arrangements. This policy sets consistent, sensitive processes for managing choice during discharge planning for adult inpatients in Humber and North Yorkshire NHS acute settings. It supports safe, timely departure when patients no longer meet criteria to reside and ensures effective information and support to enable informed decisions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatDOCX

Pages33

Reading Time12 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Purpose

Definition/Explanation of Terms

Scope of the Policy

Principles

Duties, Accountabilities and Responsibilities

Managing Choice

Reablement and Rehabilitation

Palliative and end of life care

Community Beds

Out of Area

Mental Capacity

Overview of Process for Timely discharge from acute care

Choice Escalation Process Summary

Consultation

Training

Monitoring Compliance

Arrangements for Review

References

Appendices

Impact Assessments

Humber and North Yorkshire System Choice on Discharge Policy December 2023 The on-line version is the only version that is maintained. Any printed copies should, therefore, be viewed as ‘uncontrolled’ and as such may not necessarily contain the latest updates and amendments. AMENDMENTS Amendments to the policy may be issued from time to time. A new amendment history will be issued with each change. Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535949" 1. Introduction PAGEREF _Toc120535949 \h 4 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535950" 2. Purpose PAGEREF _Toc120535950 \h 4 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535951" 3. Definition/ Explanation of Terms PAGEREF _Toc120535951 \h 5 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535952" 4. Scope of the Policy PAGEREF _Toc120535952 \h 5 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535953" 5 Principles PAGEREF _Toc120535953 \h 5 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535954" 6 Duties/ Accountabilities and Responsibilities PAGEREF _Toc120535954 \h 7 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535955" 7 Managing Choice PAGEREF _Toc120535955 \h 9 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535956" 8 Reablement and Rehabilitation PAGEREF _Toc120535956 \h 10 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535957" 9 Palliative and end of life care PAGEREF _Toc120535957 \h 10 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535958" 10 Community Beds PAGEREF _Toc120535958 \h 10 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535959" 11. Out of Area PAGEREF _Toc120535959 \h 11 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535960" 12. Mental Capacity PAGEREF _Toc120535960 \h 11 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535961" 13. Overview of Process for Timely discharge from acute care PAGEREF _Toc120535961 \h 11 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535962" 14. Choice Escalation Process Summary PAGEREF _Toc120535962 \h 15 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535963" 15. Consultation PAGEREF _Toc120535963 \h 16 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535964" 16. Training PAGEREF _Toc120535964 \h 17 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535965" 17. Monitoring Compliance PAGEREF _Toc120535965 \h 17 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535966" 18. Arrangements for Review PAGEREF _Toc120535966 \h 17 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535967" 19. References PAGEREF _Toc120535967 \h 17 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535968" 20. Appendices PAGEREF _Toc120535968 \h 18 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535969" 21. Impact Assessments PAGEREF _Toc120535969 \h 18 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535970" 21.1 Equality PAGEREF _Toc120535970 \h 18 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535971" 21.2 Bribery Act 2010 PAGEREF _Toc120535971 \h 18 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535972" 21.3 General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) PAGEREF _Toc120535972 \h 19 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535973" Appendix 1: Hospital Discharge and Mental Health Considerations PAGEREF _Toc120535973 \h 20 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535974" Appendix 2 - Criteria to reside – maintaining good decision-making PAGEREF _Toc120535974 \h 22 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535975" Appendix 3: Pathways for the Discharge to Assess Model PAGEREF _Toc120535975 \h 23 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535976" Appendix 4: The principles guiding discharge arrangements PAGEREF _Toc120535976 \h 24 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535977" Appendix 5: Summary of Legal Rights and Responsibilities PAGEREF _Toc120535977 \h 25 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535978" Appendix 6: National Choice Leaflets PAGEREF _Toc120535978 \h 28 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535979" Appendix 7 - Sample Choice Letters PAGEREF _Toc120535979 \h 29 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535980" Appendix 8: Choice on Discharge Policy Implementation Checklist PAGEREF _Toc120535980 \h 30 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc120535981" Appendix 9 - Definition/ Explanation of Terms PAGEREF _Toc120535981 \h 31 Introduction Patient choice is often cited as a reason for delayed discharge. This policy aims to support patient discharge to a setting which meets patient's individual needs and their preferred choice amongst available options but also recognises that to remain in the acute hospital setting should not be one of the ch

FAQs

Why can patient choice lead to delayed discharge?

Delays may occur when patients or families lack knowledge of available options and how services work, or when they have concerns about quality, cost, interim accommodation, or the suitability of their home.

What is the purpose of the policy?

The policy ensures choice is managed sensitively and consistently during discharge planning, with effective information and support so patients can make informed decisions.

Who does the policy apply to and when is it used?

It applies to all adult inpatients in Humber and North Yorkshire NHS acute hospital settings and is used during pre-operative assessment, admission, and discharge planning.

Sep 1, 2026

Upload by 8796093062539