Your treating doctor will tell you when you can leave hospital. A hospital stay is usually short. It is likely that you will need to continue recovering at home or, if necessary, outside in an adapted facility. It is therefore best to make the necessary preparations for discharge during your hospital stay.
Questions for your doctor
Don't hesitate to ask your doctor some questions beforehand so that you get a clearer idea of what to expect. Some possible questions:
- How long will my hospital stay last?
- What can I expect during my recovery period?
- How long will recovery take?
- Will follow-up treatment be needed?
- Will I not be able to do certain things when I go home?
- Will I need additional care or certain aids, such as an adapted bed, crutches, a walker or a wheelchair?
- Is physiotherapy at home sufficient?
- Should I first continue my recovery in another adapted facility, such as a rehabilitation centre, convalescent home or SP service (rehabilitation unit within a hospital)?
Questions for yourself
It is also best to think about transport home and your situation at home.
- Can someone take me home?
- Where will I stay after my discharge?
- Will I need adapted transport?
- Will someone be there when I get home?
- Will I need additional help at home?
- If you care for your partner or other people close to you: does help need to be organised for them?
Support and information
For support you can contact the Patient social services of UZ Gent or the social services of your health insurance fund. Among other things, Patient social services can help you with practical preparation for your discharge and administrative applications. It also offers support with the emotional impact of illness and treatment.
A reminder to prepare for your discharge can be found in the document 'Your discharge preparation' (73.97 KB) "pdf"