Going home: Criteria-led discharge information sheet

Introduction

Criteria-led discharge helps your child leave hospital as soon as it is medically safe. It's stepped process where goals are set for your child's recovery. When the goals are met, your child can be discharged.

This information sheet is for educational purposes only. Please talk to your doctor or senior nurse for more information.

Benefits of criteria-led discharge

  • Your child will spend less time in hospital because decisions about their discharge from hospital are made earlier in their stay. 
  • It gives parents and carers more involvement in planning for discharge.
  • It reduces delays in leaving hospital and helps families return to their normal home environment sooner.
  • There is less risk of getting further infections while in hospital.

Assessment by the doctor

When you child is admitted, they will be seen by a doctor. 

The doctor will assess your child, arrange for tests or imaging if required, and review the results.  

Sometime, the doctor might want to see your child again to talk about the next steps in your child's care.

When the doctor is happy with your child's recovery, they will start the criteria-led discharge process.

The 4-step discharge process

Starting the discharge process

Your doctor will talk to you about criteria-led discharge and explain the recovery plan.

Developing the criteria

Your healthcare team agree on clear goals for your child’s recovery. This might be having a normal temperature or eating and drinking without vomiting.

The criteria will be documented in your child’s medical record.

Monitoring progress

Your child’s nurse will check your child’s progress and continue to care for them to make sure the discharge goals are met.

Discharge timing

A nurse will check that your child has met all the agreed discharge criteria. Once all the discharge goals have been met and there are no medical concerns, your child can go home. 

Sometimes, a doctor will review your child before discharge.

If you feel uncomfortable with this process, please let us know.

Before going home

Please make sure you:

  • understand how and when to give your child any medicines at home
  • know about any GP or follow-up appointments your child needs
  • ask about medical certificates or other paperwork.