Getting discharged from hospital

Before you leave hospital, make sure your nurse or doctor gives you:

• follow up outpatient appointment details
• medications, scripts and instructions
• arrangements for community support services.

You should also make sure:

• you have all your personal belongings
• you’ve signed claim forms and all your fees are paid
• you’ve collected any items held for you
• your forwarding address details are correct
• you have relevant medical certificates.

After you leave hospital, may need to return for an outpatient clinic. If you need more information, contact your hospital and ask to be connected to the clinic on your appointment card or letter.

If you can’t get to an appointment, please tell us in plenty of time so your appointment can be given to someone else.

You have the right to leave the hospital before doctors recommend discharge, unless you have an infectious disease.

If you decide to leave hospital against medical advice, you could be putting your health at risk. We’ll ask you to sign a disclaimer form. You can return to hospital if your condition doesn’t improve.