Home for Lunch is all about making sure we do everything we can to safely discharge our patients by lunchtime. This can be done by prioritising early admissions and ensuring care plans are developed and implemented during the day shift.

Getting our patients home for lunch is great for our patients, colleagues and future patients who are waiting to be admitted.

Jean, who was discharged from Ward 3 at HRI last week, spoke to us whilst in the Discharge Lounge, about why she is looking forward to being Home for Lunch. Jean said: "I am looking forward to seeing my lovely neighbours who look out for me, and you never know, one of my daughters could have a surprise waiting!"

Ward Manager, Tara Leach, explains how the team on Ward 3 are supporting the Home for Lunch campaign. She said: "As a Frailty Short Stay Unit, we recognise the significant benefits of early-day discharges, which contribute to smoother transitions for patients returning home and improved overall patient outcomes.

"To effectively support this initiative, we begin discharge planning at the point of admission. This proactive approach ensures that a comprehensive and individualised discharge plan is in place well in advance. Early coordination of To Take Out (TTO) medications also plays a crucial role in minimising delays on the day of discharge.

"We maintain close collaboration with the Discharge Lounge, identifying patients scheduled for discharge the following day and notifying the lounge in advance whenever possible. Morning transfers not only facilitate timely discharges but also allow for more appropriate and efficient admissions to the ward. This helps reduce late-day admissions, which are known to increase confusion and disorientation in frail patients.

"By prioritising early admissions, we ensure that care plans are developed and implemented during the day shift, enhancing the quality and continuity of care. Our team remains committed to optimising patient flow and supporting safe, timely discharges in alignment with the goals of the “Home for Lunch” campaign."

Assistant Practitioner, Lynne Laverick wanted to share her experience of patients going to the Discharge Lounge first thing in the morning from the ward. She said: "It does really brighten the patients' day as they know they are on the pathway to home. It then also allows new patients to access the ward earlier and get settled, where they can meet the Frailty Team. We can then carry out our assessments earlier which enables faster discharge planning."