Systems and people under pressure: the discharge process in an acute hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To understand the perspective of hospital-based health professionals with regard to preparing patients for discharge from an acute hospital in England.


BACKGROUND
The hospital experience in England over recent years is characterised by increasing admission rates and decreasing length of stay. Legislation and policy initiatives have also focussed upon the need to reduce delayed discharges. Discharge preparation is known to be a complex intervention with multiple obstacles within and outside of the hospital setting.


METHODS
Qualitative.


METHODS
Posters were displayed within a hospital asking health professionals to take part in a focus group. Maximum variation, in terms of job titles, was sought for within the sample. Focus groups were held in December 2006. Six senior members of staff divided into pairs to run them. All groups were taped and transcribed verbatim and analysed using a framework approach.


RESULTS
Three focus groups were conducted, which involved 11 nurses, 15 allied health professionals, five social workers and one doctor. Analysis identified the following themes and sub themes: 1 Conflicting pressures on staff: Keeping patients in hospital vs. getting them out; Striving for flexibility within a system; A paucity of intermediary provision. 2 Casualties arising from conflicting pressures: Professionals losing their sense of professionalism; Patients being 'systematised'.


CONCLUSIONS
Pressures described during focus groups stemmed from five main sources: external targets placed upon the system, internal hospital inflexibility and poor communication, the dominance of the medical model of care, a desire to address the complex needs of individuals and a lack of community services. Staff felt themselves to be victims of these competing pressures and that many of the solutions were beyond their influence. Staff described the dehumanising effect of sometimes having to ignore patient concerns, wishes and choices.


CONCLUSIONS
Understanding of the pressures surrounding discharge could inform relevant service improvements.
Connolly
Michael
M
University Hospital of South Manchester, NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK. michael.connolly@uhsm.nhs.uk
Grimshaw
Jane
J
Dodd
Mary
M
Cawthorne
Julie
J
Hulme
Tarnya
T
Everitt
Sarah
S
Tierney
Stephanie
S
Deaton
Christi
C
D004739:England; D017144:Focus Groups; D010351:Patient Discharge