Key points

  • Do not leave hospital without a written discharge summary and clear instructions on medicines and warning signs.
  • Ask when it is safe to travel home, and how.
  • Agree in advance which follow-up happens with the treating team and which with a local doctor.

Discharge is not the end of treatment, especially when home is in another city. The patient still needs to recover, travel safely and continue care with a doctor who was not part of the treatment. Planning this before discharge avoids most problems.

What to collect at discharge

  • A written discharge summary describing the diagnosis, treatment given, any complications and the current condition.
  • A medicines list with names, doses, timings and how long to take each one.
  • Instructions on wound care, diet, activity and any restrictions.
  • Warning signs that mean the patient should seek medical help urgently, and who to contact.
  • Follow-up appointments, with dates if they have been booked.
  • Reports and imaging from the hospital stay.

Ask for anything unclear to be explained before you leave.

Is the patient ready to travel home?

Ask the treating team directly when it will be safe to travel, and by what means. After some treatments, doctors advise staying nearby for a period for review. For flights, the airline may need medical clearance; see fitness to fly. If the patient needs medical support during the journey, see airline medical escort.

Recovery stays

If the patient must stay near the hospital for a while, plan accommodation that suits recovery: quiet, accessible and close to the hospital. See where to stay near the hospital.

Follow-up from another city

Agree with the treating team which reviews must happen with them in person, which can happen by video, and which a local doctor can manage. Ask them to send the discharge summary to the local doctor, or take a copy yourself. The guide on continuing care with your doctor at home applies within India too.

How we help after discharge

We arrange recovery accommodation, the journey home, follow-up appointments and the transfer of records to the local doctor. Read about treatment in another Indian city.