You might be feeling anxious or unsure about leaving hospital after a stroke. This is completely natural, even if you’re returning to a familiar place such as your own home. So, we have information to help you feel better prepared to leave hospital.

Your stroke team

The team on your stroke unit will include a number of different health professionals who all have specialist training and experience in stroke. You may hear them called a multidisciplinary team or MDT for short. The multidisciplinary team can include:

• Doctors.
• Specialist stroke nurses,
• Healthcare assistants and rehabilitation assistants.
• Physiotherapists.
• Speech and language therapists.
• Dietitians.
• Occupational therapists.
• Eye specialists such as optometrists and ophthalmologists.
• Psychologists.
• Social workers.
• Pharmacists.

What will hospital staff do to help me prepare for leaving?

Healthcare professionals should make sure you have the following, particularly if you don't need any formal care, when you leave hospital:

1 Transport to leave hospital

For example, someone is collecting you, or a taxi or hospital transport is booked for you.

2 Understanding of the support you will receive

You (and your carer, if you have one) should be able to confidently use any new equipment you may need. Make sure you know who to contact if you need more help.

You should also know about support available from local organisations if you initially need help with tasks such as shopping or collecting prescriptions.

3 Hospital discharge plan

The stroke team should have reviewed your discharge plan with you before giving you a copy for you to keep in a safe place.

4 Discharge summary letter

A letter, called a discharge summary letter, will be sent to your GP. This letter is usually sent electronically so that your GP gets it within 24 hours of your discharge. You are usually given a copy.

The letter will include information about:

• your diagnosis
• the treatment you had in hospital
• medicines you are taking or changes to your medication
• any follow-up you might need.

This letter can be used to check which teams will be visiting you within the stroke community rehabilitation team.

5 Information about returning to work (if applicable)

The stroke team should ask you if you want to return to work and check your ability to do so.

If you cannot work, they should make sure you have a fit note (Statement of Fitness for Work).

6 Information about driving after stroke (if applicable)

After a stroke or TIA, you must not drive for at least one calendar month. The stroke team should have a conversation with you (and your family or carers) if you wish to drive. They should explain any difficulties that might make driving unsafe or illegal.

How can I prepare to leave hospital?

It can also be helpful to use the below points when speaking with your stroke team about leaving hospital. This can help to make sure all your questions are answered, and you feel prepared to leave. Download a printer-friendly version of this list.

Equipment and essentials

• comfortable clothes to wear
• keys, if you are going home
• enough money for short-term needs
• food in the house (if you are going home), including anything you might need for a modified diet, if you have swallowing problems. We have information and tips on this.
• flat sheets, if needed, for safety, comfort and mobility
• several duvets
• extra pillows to support affected limbs both in bed and while in a chair
• slide sheets, if required. Hospital staff use these for stroke survivors who need repositioning in a bed or on a chair. They are patient-specific and are usually discarded on discharge, but you can request to take these home.
• a supply of incontinence products, if you need them, including:
  • disposable bed pads to protect sheets and reduce the need to change them frequently
  • disposable washcloths for cleaning the skin
• aphasia communication cards that your speech and language therapist has developed specific to your/your family’s/carer’s needs to support communication. You can also order our communication support pack, which includes communication cards.
• barrier creams to make sure your skin stays healthy if you have reduced mobility or are incontinent. Speak to your GP or stroke team for advice as they may be able to prescribe these.

We have more information on equipment, including stairlifts, grab rails and other bathroom aids, and how you will be assessed for this and get the equipment ready for returning home.

Medication

You should be given a supply of medication. You (and anyone supporting you, like a relative or carer) should understand any new medication you’ve been given, including how and when to take it. If you need medicines, you will usually be given enough for seven days.

If you find it difficult to remember when to take your medicines, you can buy and use pill organisers. These are plastic boxes with compartments for different days and times of the day. 

A pharmacist may be able to organise your medicines using one of these plastic boxes or a calendar blister pack, which has the day and time the medicine should be taken printed on the pack. However, these aren’t suitable for all medications and there could be a charge for this.

Other things to check

• If you are going home, will the heating be on (if needed)?
• Will there be someone to greet you, if you’re going home? It may be helpful to ask a friend or relative to stay with you or visit regularly.

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