PRUH sees boost in discharges earlier in the day, with more patients Home For Lunch

09 October 2024 - Over 100 people have been able to return home earlier in the day at Princess Royal University Hospital

A new pilot project to support discharge from hospital earlier in the day and allow patients who are well enough to return home as quickly as possible has been launched at Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH), part of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

The Home For Lunch initiative was launched in June 2024 across five wards in the PRUH. Since its introduction, the initiative has led to a significant increase in early discharges, with over 140 patients returning home earlier in the day. Following the broader rollout in August 2024 to a further four wards, morning discharges have risen by a quarter (from 11% to 31%). The hospital is now aiming to ensure that 60-70 patients can be discharged by lunchtime each week.

The project brings together teams from various disciplines, including medical, nursing, therapy, and pharmacy staff, who work collaboratively to begin discharge planning the day before at 2:00 pm. Patients who are concerned about food supplies when they return home are also provided with a nutritional food pack to support their recovery.

As well as ensuring inpatients return home earlier in the day, Home For Lunch also ensures beds are available at an earlier point in the day for patients who need specialist care and treatment.

Angela Helleur, Site Chief Executive for PRUH, commended the project, saying: “At its core, Home For Lunch is a straightforward but highly effective idea. By discharging patients during daylight hours, we ensure that community services can offer home visits, while essential services such as GP surgeries, shops and pharmacies are still open.

“I am incredibly proud of everyone involved in the Home For Lunch project. The benefits for our patients are clear, and our teams have worked diligently to implement this new approach. It has not only improved patient safety and discharge times, but also allowed many patients to return to the comfort of their homes more quickly.”