Discharge planning for older patients is gaining recognition as a process requiring improvement. Demographic changes have produced an increasing population of elderly patients in the acute hospital sector, many of whom need co-ordinated discharge planning and appropriate post-discharge support. This article discusses the accumulated research findings of the past 20 years, which have highlighted the need for health services research, policy and practice to improve the effectiveness of discharge planning for elderly people.

Aged↗

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Community nurses & discharge planning.

The role of community nurses in discharge planning for elderly patients leaving hospital is of increasing importance in the wake of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. Community nurses can play a key role in contributing to pre-discharge assessments and in providing continuing post-discharge assessment and care. The Nursing Research Unit at the University of Edinburgh conducted a survey early in 1993, just prior to implementation of the Community Care Act in Scotland, to ascertain the views and experiences of a national 1 in 3 sample of community nurses relating to the discharge of elderly people from acute hospitals. This article presents the results of that survey and offers recommendations regarding the role of community nurses in discharge planning for elderly patients.

Community Health Nursing↗

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HIV infection and community nursing staff in Scotland--2. Knowledge and attitudes.

Findings from a survey of community nursing staff in Scotland reveal that there is limited knowledge about many aspects of HIV infection. Respondents were concerned about their lack of experience and knowledge as well as the in-service education that they had received. A substantial minority of community nursing staff felt that they should have the right to refuse to care for HIV-infected patients and those whose lifestyle put them at risk of HIV infection. A majority of staff felt that health professionals who are most at risk of contact with HIV-infected materials should be informed of patients' HIV-antibody status without their consent. There were also some indications of a lack of confidence in service managers and recommendations are made regarding ways of increasing both the knowledge and confidence of front-line staff.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

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