PB was medically fit for discharge but had no home, clothes, or food. Our team stepped in to provide essentials and coordinate with housing services, enabling a safe and timely discharge.

While reviewing outstanding Electronic Transfers of Care (ETOCs), our Hospital Discharge Team was made aware of PB, a 61-year-old man medically fit for discharge but unable to leave hospital due to having no fixed address. PB had recently signed away his tenancy, and with no accommodation to return to, the local authority was unable to offer immediate help. He had no clothes, no food, and nothing to leave the ward in but a hospital gown.

Our team stepped in.

After speaking with the ward manager, we contacted the local ETOC hub for guidance. They confirmed the council had a duty to respond, but any additional support we could offer would help ease the discharge process. We also reached out to Shelter Cymru, who advised that PB would need to attend the council in person to be assessed for temporary accommodation.

To ensure PB had the essentials before discharge, we organised:

• A foodbank voucher to cover his immediate nutritional needs.
• Two full changes of clothes, a jacket, and shoes from a local charity shop we’ve partnered with for precisely this kind of emergency.
• A toiletry pack provided by the hospital’s Occupational Therapy team.

PB was happy to accept this support and provided his sizes. Once everything was gathered, it was delivered to the ward. Although it was too late in the day to discharge him immediately, he was able to leave the very next morning. The council arranged temporary accommodation from there.

The ward manager later told us how grateful she was for the support, noting that this intervention freed up a much-needed hospital bed much faster than usual.

This case highlights the vital role our Hospital Discharge Team plays - not just in ensuring safe discharges, but in bridging the gap between health, housing, and social care when people have nowhere else to turn.