Health and care partners across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough have launched a new campaign to help see more patients leaving hospital earlier in the day, so they can be Home for Lunch. Ensuring people are discharged from hospital when they are medically fit to leave, means we can better support people coming into hospital with urgent and emergency health needs. 

Family, friends, and carers can play a key role in supporting those who are medically ready to leave hospital. By ensuring you are ready to collect or arrange transport to pick up from hospital alongside preparing their home ready for their return means they can continue their recovery at home swiftly, and safely. 

 

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We’ll always try our best to discharge patients before lunchtime if we can – not only does this benefit the patient but reduces pressures on our hospitals. 

So if you’re a friend or family member, please make sure you’re available on their discharge day to come and collect, and help get them home.

Photo of two women in scrubs. Text reads: Home so I can help others. Delays in collecting friends and family can result in delays across our entire hospital system – making it harder for us to treat those who need us most. So when they are ready to come home, make sure you are too.

Photo of two women in scrubs. Text reads: Home so I can help others. Delays in collecting friends and family can result in delays across our entire hospital system – making it harder for us to treat those who need us most. So when they are ready to come home, make sure you are too. 

Staying in a hospital bed longer than needed can have a negative impact someone’s mental & physical wellbeing. 

Help us get you home sooner by planning your journey in advance… so we can get you Home for Lunch.

Photo of two older people smiling at each other. They are completing a puzzle. Text reads: Home for my health. Being in hospital for a long period of time unnecessarily can cause serious harm and impact on a person’s ability to manage day-to-day needs. So when they are ready to come home, make sure you are too.

Photo of two older people smiling at each other. They are completing a puzzle. Text reads: Home for my health. Being in hospital for a long period of time unnecessarily can cause serious harm and impact on a person’s ability to manage day-to-day needs. So when they are ready to come home, make sure you are too.  

Delays in hospital discharge adds significant pressure to our hospitals.  

Help us get you home sooner by planning your journey home in advance... so we can help those most in need. 

Photo of a man smiling at the camera, wearing Royal Papworth Hospital scrubs. Text reads: Home so I can help others. Delays in collecting friends and family can result in delays across our entire hospital system – making it harder for us to treat those who need us most. So when they are ready to come home, make sure you are too.

Photo of a man smiling at the camera, wearing Royal Papworth Hospital scrubs. Text reads: Home so I can help others. Delays in collecting friends and family can result in delays across our entire hospital system – making it harder for us to treat those who need us most. So when they are ready to come home, make sure you are too. 

Collecting a loved from hospital earlier in the day is better for their mental & physical health, and relieves pressure on NHS services. 

So when they’re ready to come home, make sure you are too. 

 Photo showing an older woman at a table with a book. A younger woman is by her side, smiling at her. Text reads: Home for my lunch. Getting patients home earlier in the day helps to reduce their risk of harm alongside helping to prevent delays within our local hospitals. So when they are ready to come home, make sure you are too. Photo showing an older woman at a table with a book. A younger woman is by her side, smiling at her. Text reads: Home for my lunch. Getting patients home earlier in the day helps to reduce their risk of harm alongside helping to prevent delays within our local hospitals. So when they are ready to come home, make sure you are too. 

When you do get the call to say your loved one is ready to come home from hospital, please make sure you are ready to collect them and that their home is clean and safe for them to return to. 

Delays in collecting friends and family can result in delays across our entire hospital system, making it harder for us to treat those most in need.

 Photo of an older man and woman, embracing each other. Text reads: Home for hugs. Don’t let your relatives miss out on valuable time with you and your family. When they are ready to come home, make sure you are too Photo of an older man and woman, embracing each other. Text reads: Home for hugs. Don’t let your relatives miss out on valuable time with you and your family. When they are ready to come home, make sure you are too

   

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Health and care partners across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough have launched a new initiative to help see more patients leaving hospital earlier in the day, so they can be Home for Lunch. 

Discharging patients from hospital earlier in the day, means patients can get home in daylight hours and has many benefits both for our patients’ mental and physical health alongside helping to reduce pressures on our wider health care services so that staff can give the vital care to those that need it most. 

Family, friends, and carers can play a key role in supporting those who are medically ready to leave hospital. By ensuring you are ready to collect your relative or friend, or arranging transport to pick them up from hospital, alongside preparing their home ready for their return, means they can continue their recovery at home swiftly, and safely.  

Research shows that a prolonged stay in a hospital bed can have a significant negative impact on someone’s mental health and physical health. For patients over the age of 80, a week in bed can lead to 10 years of muscle ageing. There is also a greater risk of contracting in-ward viruses and infections during a hospital stay. 

Family, friends and carers can also help loved one’s recovery by: 

  • Preparing the home for their return - making sure their house is warm, clean and stocking up on essentials like food, and medicine 

  • Understanding their hospital discharge plans – provide support with medication administration and recovery requirements, including understanding any equipment needed to aid recovery and how to use it  

  • Helping them attend their planned hospital appointments - ensuring loved ones respond to hospital phone calls and attend appointments  

  • Offering ongoing support – helping with preparing and cooking meals, offering support to wash and dress, ensuring they are engaging in any community visits and physiotherapy  

  • Using the right health service at the right time – having the details of who to contact with any concerns for their ongoing care.