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This conference, chaired by Liz Lees-Deutsch PhD Professor for Nursing Practice Centre for Care Excellence (a partnership between Coventry University and University Hospital Coventry Warwickshire NHS Trust) focuses on practical approaches to improving discharge practice and developing your skills to manage discharge effectively. The event will support you to improve your performance against the discharge related metrics against the 2025/26 NHS Oversight Framework which form the basis of the current league tables, and increased freedoms. Through expert sessions and interactive masterclasses the conference will support you to improve discharge practice in your service, improving safety and patient experience.
The conference will also focus on key challenges at discharge as identified by the Health Services Safety Investigation Body (HSSIB) including safe and timely medication, issues around the use of electronic systems and concerns around rapid discharge at the end of life.
“Once people no longer need hospital care, being at home or in a community setting (such as a care home) is the best place for them to continue recovery. However, unnecessary delays in being discharged from hospital are a problem that too many people experience.”
NHS England
“Responses to questions about information and support provided at discharge were less positive…the lack of progress in areas such as discharge arrangements and in people feeling they received enough information - particularly when leaving hospital - is disappointing.”
Annual survey of hospital inpatients the Care Quality Commission 9th September 2025
“Discharge delays are contributing to people experiencing longer stays in hospital, with the majority of these people likely to be older.”
Age Concern September 2025
This conference will enable you to:
Network with colleagues who are working to improve discharge practice
Reflect on national developments and track improvement against the NHS Oversight Framework 2025/26 Discharge Metrics
Learn from outstanding examples of changing culture and improve discharge practice
Improve your skills in leading discharge practice
Reflect on the discharge ready date – understanding the data and thresholds
Understand the use of criteria led discharge/criteria to reside
Ensure a whole team person centred approach and understand how team members can be empowered to discharge
Understand the root cause of long stays in your service, and move from a criteria to discharge to a criteria to reside approach
Improve the identification and discharge assessment of patients needing complex discharge support early
Enable rapid discharge and communication at the end of life
Develop your skills in complex discharge management and integration
Understanding the legal framework for managing complex and delayed discharges (depending on capacity status of patient)
Explore and understand frailty and long stay patients
Reduce medication error and improve safety at discharge
Learn from trusts that have improved discharge practice
Self assess and reflect on your own practice
Supports CPD professional development and acts as revalidation evidence. This course provides 5 Hrs training for CPD subject to peer group approval for revalidation purposes
