This document should not replace the advice of your relevant health care professional. 

Discharge planning

We want to make sure you’re prepared and safe when you leave hospital. We’ll start planning
for your discharge as soon as you arrive to help make the process smooth for you and your
family / carers. Your doctors will estimate a discharge date based on your condition, which may
change during your stay.

Your planned discharge date may also be written on your Patient Bedside Communication
Board. Usually, discharge will be before 10.00am on the day you go home. You may be moved
from your ward to the Transit Lounge before you go home.

We want you to be involved in decisions about going home, so feel free to talk with us about
what’s best for you.

Transport

You will need to plan for how you will get home from hospital. Can a family member pick you up or will need to book a taxi? Remember that maxi taxis need to be booked ahead of time. You may need to have someone with you for support if you have had a recent procedure.

Speak with your nurse if you have any questions or need help to organise transport.

Parking

Please ask your nurse for the best parking option closest to the ward you will be leaving from.  

More information about parking is available here:

• Parking at Austin Hospital
• Parking at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital
• Parking at Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre
• Concession rate parking
• Accessible parking at Austin Hospital

Medicines

A pharmacist may talk to you about medicines needed for when you go home. They may give you a list of your current medicines. This list will show what you are now taking - including any new medicines, and any medicines you should stop taking. It may help to have a family member or friend with you during this conversation.

Future appointments

Your hospital doctor may want to see you after you have returned home. We aim to give you the appointment details before you leave, otherwise you will be sent a letter in the mail with your appointment details.

These appointments may be in person or via Telehealth. If you have many appointments, we will try to coordinate these to limit multiple visits back to the hospital.

Equipment

You may see a member of the allied health team (for example a physiotherapist or occupational therapist) during your hospital stay, who may organise mobility or safety equipment for you to use at home. They will talk with you about equipment hire, which we offer free of charge for the first 30 days.

Ask your nurse if you have any questions about equipment.

Community services and supports at home

Your nurse or other members of your care team may organise support services to help you care for yourself at home.

Make sure you have the details of any services arranged for you before you leave.  

Medical certificate or carer’s certificate

If you need a medical certificate (or carer’s certificate for a family member) please ask your doctor before you leave hospital.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you need these documents.

Important discharge information

There are some key documents that you should be provided with before you leave. These include:

• Future appointment details
• Referrals to other services
• Medical discharge summary – a copy will be sent to your GP and uploaded to My Health Record (unless you have opted out)

Feedback

We welcome your feedback about your experience and the care you received while you were in hospital. There are lots of different ways to provide this feedback. 

Download as a fact sheet

You can also download the information from this page as a fact sheet. It also includes a preparing for home checklist.

Contact us

For further information contact:

Patient Safety and Clinical Excellence

Phone: 03 9496 5000