Hinchingbrooke Hospital is part of the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which also runs Peterborough City and Stamford Hospitals. All our hospitals provide hospital care for patients who require emergency, medical or surgical services. Hospitals are the right place to be when you are in need of specific surgical or medical treatment. However, when your treatment is completed, it is important your stay is not delayed for the following reasons: • S taying in hospital increases your risk of infection, your muscles wasting and could result in loss of independence • S ome people find it harder to return home the longer they stay in hospital due to loss of confidence and worry about being able to manage •B eds are always needed for people who are very unwell and who may be waiting in the Emergency Department for a bed on a ward to
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become available • People awaiting surgery, both urgent and nonurgent, may have their operations cancelled if a bed on a ward is not available For all the reasons above, our teams will start to plan your discharge from our hospital almost as soon as you come in. The considerations made in planning your discharge include: • Assessing what your needs might be when you are ready to leave hospital • Talking to relevant colleagues who can help in meeting any additional needs you have (such as social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists or district nurses) • Making arrangements for any equipment or
