‘Very disappointing’ results on hospital discharge summaries: RACGP

A large NSW survey shows many patients leave EDs without a discharge summary, especially in rural areas
Professor Charlotte Hespe
Professor Charlotte Hespe.

Hospitals are still failing to provide clinical handovers, a survey suggests, with fewer than half of rural NSW patients saying they received a discharge summary after being admitted to ED. 

The Bureau of Health Information (BHI) 2021-22 patient survey showed just 43% of rural patients were sent home from ED with a discharge summary, although the figure rose to 74% in urban areas.