What is the challenge your project is going to address and how does it connect to the theme of 'How can improvement be used to reduce delays accessing health and care services'?

A main challenge is understanding how accurate our baseline data is, our data is very much dependant on staff updating the systems within Belfast Trust in a timely manner.

What we’ve found is technology is becoming a bigger issue in terms of timely data. Our computers on wheels no longer work in a number of wards this results in a delay in deeming patients medical fit, creating discharge letters, prepping scripts all of which impacts the patient journey.

What does your project aim to achieve?

We are all aware the effect delayed discharges are having across our system and therefore purpose of this project is to ensure we can safely and timely discharge patients from hospital with focus on our simple discharge delays.

Successful discharge planning has positive implications for patients and healthcare staff.  It reduces length of stay in hospital, increases patient satisfaction and improves patient flow through the hospital. This reduces the risk of elective procedures being cancelled or patients being held in emergency departments or waiting in corridors. Moreover, by reducing length of stay in hospital there is reduced risk of hospital acquired infections, medication errors, thrombotic events, pressure ulcers, cognitive or functional decline.

If we as a Organisation are able to improve on safe timely discharges this will have an effect on patient overall experience.

How will the project be delivered?

From previous experience we have found for  a change to become sustainable on a ward a multidisciplinary approach is best. Having an MDT approach allows us to develop change ideas that benefit all staff involved in a patient discharge.

Multidisciplinary collaboration promotes effective discharge planning. In order to have successful multidisciplinary team (MDT) discharge planning, there needs to be communication, coordination and collaboration between MDT members, understanding each disciplines roles, as well as patient involvement.

How is your project going to share learning?

Delay discharge is a problem in all hospitals, this is not an new issue however if we as a organisation can get it right it will not only impact the flow throughout the hospital it will also impact on the patient experience. We can share our change ideas, what worked well, what did not work and hope we affect Discharges across the UK and Ireland.