Our Discharge Lounge Sir Thomas Moore Ward
The Discharge Lounge is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is used to move our patients who are medically fit from our wards to the lounge, awaiting discharge. This releases beds for new patients who need our care. Patients transferred to the Discharge Lounge are anticipated to be discharged either on the same day or within the next 48 hours.
The Discharge Lounge has ten chairs and fourteen beds. It is a comfortable environment for patients awaiting discharge from the hospital and who are still awaiting for medication, discharge documents or transport to take them home or to another care provider.
Our Team
The Discharge Lounge is staffed with two Registered Nurses and three Health Care Assistants (HCA) and a dedicated Porter who will go to and from wards transferring patients to the lounge. The Discharge Lounge is supported by a Nurse in Charge.
The Discharge Lounge has a Pharmacist Technician, between 9.30am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday, to assist with ordering, dispensing, checking and educating patients with medication.
Information for patients
You will be kept up to date with the details of your discharge or if there are any delays by the Discharge Lounge staff. Medication waiting times can be up to two hours from when your medication has been ordered.
Transport
Colleagues will inform your relative or a friend when you have been moved to the Discharge Lounge. Once you have everything you need for your discharge, your relative or friend can come to collect you.
If you meet the criteria for hospital transport, this will be booked for you. Once you have all your medication and discharge documents the transport provider will be made aware that you are ready for collection. Please be aware that there is a four-hour window from when you are ready for discharge to when you are collected. Please be aware that collection times can change subject to ambulance availability.
Information for Family and Friends
Please ensure patients only have essential belongings with them during their stay in hospital.
If you know your relative or friend is due to be discharged, please ensure they have appropriate clothing to wear especially through the winter months.
If your relative or friend is being transported home by hospital transport, please ensure that they will be able to access to their property or that there is somebody at home to greet them.