Getting discharged from hospital

During your hospital stay, we monitor your progress and recovery. When we’re sure it’s safe for you to leave, we help you make plans to go home.

We call this a discharge.

You may need to keep getting treatment when you get home. You may also need some home support services, follow up visits with specialists, or clinic appointments.

Moving to the Transit Care Hub

You'll be transferred to the Transit Care Hub (TCH) from your ward bed. At the TCH, our staff will finalise your discharge before you leave hospital. This includes pharmacy and allied health reviews, doctor’s review, pathology reports, and facilitating your transport.

While you're in the Transit Care Hub we'll care for you and talk to you about:

  • the plan for your ongoing care
  • what you can and can't do when you go home
  • any questions you have.

We'll tell you who to contact if you have any problems after you leave. You can contact your GP too.

Medicines for home

We'll let you know about any changes to your medicines, or any new medicines that you'll need to take. We'll tell you what they are and when you need to take them.

Check if you need more medicine from the pharmacy before leaving the hospital. There are some that you can only get from the hospital pharmacy.

When you'll go home

Your discharge time depends on the ward and the hospital.

If you can't leave hospital at the suggested time, talk to our staff. We'll care for you until you can get home.

Before you leave hospital

Make sure your nurse or doctor gives you:

  • your discharge letter
  • your care plan
  • your follow up appointment details
  • any new medicines, scripts and instructions
  • arrangements for community support services.

Also make sure:

  • you know who to contact if you have any questions or concerns
  • you've got all your personal belongings
  • your contact details are correct
  • you've got any medical certificates you need for work or study
  • you've got transport home
  • you've arranged any equipment or aids you need to manage at home.

After you leave hospital, you might need to come back for follow up appointments. You'll get details about this in an appointment card or letter.

If you can’t get to an appointment, let us know so we can give your appointment to someone else. Call us on the phone number on your appointment letter.

Leaving hospital against medical advice

Leaving hospital before you're well enough could put your health at risk.

If you decide to leave against our medical advice, we'll ask you to sign a disclaimer form. This form is a record that you've chosen to go home against our advice.

You should come back to hospital if your condition doesn't improve. It's okay to come back, even if you left against our advice.

Getting home from hospital

You'll need to arrange your own way home.

Before you leave hospital, make plans for your family or a friend to pick you up. We can help you call a taxi if you don't have someone to take you home. You'll need to pay for the taxi.

Please talk to us if you're having problems getting home.

Taking your baby home

If you're taking your baby home from hospital you must have a baby capsule in your car. You can hire one from Kidsafe Queensland.

Transfer to another hospital

If you need special health care that isn't available locally, we may transfer you to one of our following partner hospitals.

Our partnership agreement means public patients can be treated in these hospitals at no cost.

Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS)

The PTSS helps patients with their travel and accommodation costs when you have to travel more than 50 km for specialist medical services.

Read more about the PTSS on the Queensland Government website.

Last updated: June 2024