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Policy for the Discharge and transfer of children and young people ...

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When a <strong>young</strong> person has ongoing care needs, <strong>and</strong> is reaching <strong>the</strong> age where adultservices will be assuming responsibility <strong>for</strong> this, <strong>the</strong> transition <strong>of</strong> care should be recorded in<strong>the</strong> notes. A named person known to <strong>the</strong> <strong>young</strong> person <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir family should beidentified where possible <strong>for</strong> contact in case <strong>of</strong> difficulty.6.12. Children who have remained in hospital <strong>for</strong> 3 months or longerThese <strong>children</strong> will be subject to Section 85 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Children Act 2004. The Trust has aresponsibility to notify social services in <strong>the</strong>se circumstances <strong>and</strong> when <strong>the</strong> child isdischarged or <strong>transfer</strong>red to ano<strong>the</strong>r health provider. Please refer to multi agency guidancere <strong>children</strong> who are in hospital <strong>for</strong> more than three months as directed by namedpr<strong>of</strong>essionals <strong>for</strong> child protection.6.13. Palliative care needsChildren who have palliative care needs must have an identified key-worker to co-ordinatean appropriate support network within <strong>the</strong> home setting. They require a written plan <strong>of</strong>treatment <strong>and</strong> intervention, details <strong>of</strong> which have been agreed with <strong>the</strong> family <strong>and</strong> sharedwith <strong>the</strong> community teams prior to discharge.6.14. <strong>Discharge</strong> <strong>of</strong> Infants from <strong>the</strong> Neonatal Unit (NNU)The previous st<strong>and</strong>ards all apply to infants being discharged from NNU who may alsohave a co-ordinated programme <strong>of</strong> follow up, with special arrangements <strong>for</strong> vision,hearing, developmental progress <strong>and</strong> ongoing support. All <strong>of</strong> this should be recorded in <strong>the</strong>child’s notes. The principles <strong>of</strong> <strong>children</strong> with continuing healthcare need outlined above islikely to apply to this group <strong>of</strong> patients.6.15. <strong>Discharge</strong> <strong>of</strong> Children <strong>and</strong> Young <strong>people</strong> with Mental HealthIssuesWhere a child has an identified mental health need, arrangements must be made in <strong>the</strong>discharge or <strong>transfer</strong> plan <strong>for</strong> follow up from <strong>the</strong> Child <strong>and</strong> Adolescent Mental HealthService (CAMHS). Where this is not thought to be necessary <strong>the</strong> reason(s) <strong>for</strong> thisdecision need to be agreed with <strong>the</strong> child/<strong>young</strong> person’s consultant <strong>and</strong> documented in<strong>the</strong> health record.6.16. <strong>Discharge</strong> from <strong>the</strong> Emergency Department6.17. Many <strong>children</strong> will be seen <strong>and</strong> assessed in <strong>the</strong> Emergency Department <strong>and</strong> deemedmedically fit <strong>for</strong> discharge during <strong>the</strong> working day, evenings, weekends or bank holidays.For most <strong>children</strong> this can occur safely <strong>and</strong> without concern <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> social circumstances.6.18. The clinical staff discharging <strong>the</strong> patient must ensure that, in addition to a full medicalassessment, <strong>the</strong>y make & document an assessment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> social circumstances <strong>and</strong>consider if <strong>the</strong> child <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir accompanying carers can safely return home. If <strong>the</strong>re is anyconcern that <strong>the</strong> child may not be able to return home safely <strong>and</strong> in a timely way,consideration should be made <strong>of</strong> provision <strong>of</strong> hospital transport or admission to childhealth until such time that public transport is easily accessible.6.19. Where a child <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir parent/carer have arrived by ambulance <strong>and</strong> are deemedmedically fit <strong>for</strong> discharge, it is <strong>the</strong> parent/carers responsibility to arrange transport home.If <strong>the</strong> discharge is to occur during unsocial hours parents/carers should still try <strong>and</strong> arrangetransport home. In exceptional circumstances where this may not be possible <strong>and</strong>parents/carers have exhausted all avenues, fur<strong>the</strong>r advice can be sought from Child<strong>Policy</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> discharge <strong>and</strong> <strong>transfer</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>children</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> from child healthPage 9 <strong>of</strong> 38

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