When your doctors say you are well enough to go home, you may still need to wait for your discharge medicines.
We know this wait can feel frustrating, and we appreciate your patience.
Your clinical team has confirmed that you are well enough to leave hospital. However, doctors may need to see other patients with more urgent needs before they can complete your discharge letter and prescription.
Once your discharge prescription has been written, it is checked by a pharmacist to make sure it is safe and suitable for you.
After this, the prescription is sent to the dispensary. The team labels your medicines with instructions, prepares them, checks them, and packages them.
A copy of your discharge prescription is also sent to your GP and community pharmacy. A copy is kept in your hospital notes, and you will be given a copy too.
Sometimes the pharmacist or dispensary team may find something that needs to be corrected. If this happens, the prescription must be updated before your medicines can be released.
When your medicines are ready, they are delivered to the ward. Deliveries happen at set times, so there may be a delay while we wait for the next porter round.
When the ward team receives your medicines, the nurses will usually check them and talk them through with you. They will also make sure everything needed for your safe discharge is in place, such as follow-up referrals or transport home if this has been arranged.
Once all checks are complete, you will be discharged and can go home.
