Hospital bosses say they are working hard to improve discharge procedures after an audit showed a list of errors.
The audit covered the first three months of 2013, during which time two patients were discharged with their cannulas still in. One of these was taken back to their residential home with no discharge letter or medication, and in a wheelchair with no footplates or brakes.
Another patient with dementia was sent home without their family being told. They were left on their own at home with their medication.
Another was discharged without medication after allegedly not eating or drinking while in hospital.
The audit showed confused notes and documentation and breakdowns in communication were sometimes to blame for unsafe discharges.
In one case the report cites “conflicting and difficult to decipher” information within the patient’s notes.
The audit and improvements being made by the L&D were discussed by a Luton Borough Council committee last night (May 30) at the town hall.
The hospital is currently in the process of recruiting nine more discharge officers.
A spokesman said: “Luton and Dunstable Hospital discharges around 105 patients every day. We have made significant improvements in our discharge processes over the last three years and regularly audit patient experience of discharge.
“We continue to work closely with Social Services and other providers for patients with complex requirements. We established a patient experience call centre in September 2012 and we have been seeking patient views on their discharge as part of the task and finish group established by Luton Borough Council.
“The hospital welcomes the joint work we are doing with the council and other health colleagues to deliver excellence in discharge planning.”
Karen Ward, director of operations at the L&D, added: “We are rigorous in auditing the patient discharge process and our most recent three month audit highlighted a very small number of cases where we are following up actions as part of the learning we have gained.
“We have discharge officers in place on each ward to help us deliver a more streamlined service so that patients are discharged from hospital in a safe and timely manner with a seamless transfer of care.
“Whilst we don’t get it right every time, it has helped improve the care that we offer.”