"My Mum Deserved Better – Reform Hospital Discharge for the Vulnerable"
"My Mum Deserved Better – Reform Hospital Discharge for the Vulnerable"
The Issue
My mum deserved better.
On 12 January 2025, my mum, Cheryl Raw, passed away.
Her death was not inevitable — I believe it was the result of failures in her hospital discharge process.
Too many vulnerable people—like my mum—are discharged from hospital without proper assessment, support, or even a word to their families.
She had both physical and mental health needs, and she was sent home too soon. She died soon after.
This isn’t just one family’s heartbreak—it’s a systemic failure happening to thousands.
Sadly, my mum’s story is not unique.
Across the UK, thousands of vulnerable patients are discharged from hospitals every year without adequate planning or support. According to NHS data, unsafe or unplanned discharges are a leading cause of emergency readmission — with 1 in 5 patients readmitted within 30 days. For those with mental health conditions, the risk of harm, self-neglect, or relapse is even higher.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has repeatedly raised concerns about poor discharge planning, especially for people with dual needs — yet little has changed. Families are left in the dark, patients are sent home without the care they require, and too often, the consequences are devastating.
We need systemic change.
I am calling for a Mandatory Integrated Discharge Protocol for all vulnerable adults with both mental and physical health needs. This would mean:
- Full multi-disciplinary assessment before discharge.
- Mandatory family/advocate consultation and written agreement.
- Post-discharge safety plans including medication, follow-up, and community support.
- Safeguarding oversight for all high-risk discharges.
- Clear accountability through a documented checklist.
This is about making sure no other family goes through what mine has.
With the right procedures in place, lives can be saved, suffering can be reduced, and trust can be restored between patients, families, and the NHS.
📢 Please sign and share this petition to demand the government, NHS England, and hospital trusts act now.
Together, we can create a system that protects our most vulnerable when they are at their weakest.
218
The Issue
My mum deserved better.
On 12 January 2025, my mum, Cheryl Raw, passed away.
Her death was not inevitable — I believe it was the result of failures in her hospital discharge process.
Too many vulnerable people—like my mum—are discharged from hospital without proper assessment, support, or even a word to their families.
She had both physical and mental health needs, and she was sent home too soon. She died soon after.
This isn’t just one family’s heartbreak—it’s a systemic failure happening to thousands.
Sadly, my mum’s story is not unique.
Across the UK, thousands of vulnerable patients are discharged from hospitals every year without adequate planning or support. According to NHS data, unsafe or unplanned discharges are a leading cause of emergency readmission — with 1 in 5 patients readmitted within 30 days. For those with mental health conditions, the risk of harm, self-neglect, or relapse is even higher.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has repeatedly raised concerns about poor discharge planning, especially for people with dual needs — yet little has changed. Families are left in the dark, patients are sent home without the care they require, and too often, the consequences are devastating.
We need systemic change.
I am calling for a Mandatory Integrated Discharge Protocol for all vulnerable adults with both mental and physical health needs. This would mean:
- Full multi-disciplinary assessment before discharge.
- Mandatory family/advocate consultation and written agreement.
- Post-discharge safety plans including medication, follow-up, and community support.
- Safeguarding oversight for all high-risk discharges.
- Clear accountability through a documented checklist.
This is about making sure no other family goes through what mine has.
With the right procedures in place, lives can be saved, suffering can be reduced, and trust can be restored between patients, families, and the NHS.
📢 Please sign and share this petition to demand the government, NHS England, and hospital trusts act now.
Together, we can create a system that protects our most vulnerable when they are at their weakest.
218
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Petition created on 4 August 2025