The Health and Social Care Minister has confirmed that not all hospital discharges require a formal care plan, provided discharge information is clearly communicated.
The information was provided in response to a written question from Juan Watterson SHK, who asked the Health Minister whether it is considered best practice for all hospital discharges to include a care plan agreed with the patient and carer, and how many discharges in each of the past three years took place without one.
Claire Christian said it is both best practice and a professional obligation under the General Medical Council’s Good Medical Practice for discharge arrangements to be clearly explained to patients and, where appropriate, their carers.
She explained that all patients discharged from hospital receive a standardised discharge summary.
Discharge Plans
This summary is completed at the point of discharge, recorded in the patient’s digital health record, and shared with the patient’s GP.
It includes information on the outcome of the hospital admission, any changes to medication, follow-up actions, and ongoing care arrangements.
These details are discussed with patients during discharge planning and again when they leave hospital.
However, the Minister clarified that a separate, documented discharge care plan is not required for every patient.
Formal care plans are developed and agreed with patients and carers only where there are complex or ongoing care needs, following a multidisciplinary team review.
For routine discharges, the discharge summary and verbal explanation are considered sufficient and in line with best practice.
Information Provided
The Minister added that no patients are discharged without discharge information being provided.
Because discharge care plans are created on a needs-led basis, the absence of a separate plan does not indicate a failure in care for routine cases.
As a result, data on the number of discharges without a separate discharge care plan is not routinely collected.
