How to Read Your Hospital Discharge Letter: A Plain English Guide
You've been in hospital, you're being sent home, and someone hands you a letter full of medical jargon. You smile, nod, and put it in a drawer when you get home. Sound familiar? Hospital discharge letters contain important information about your care — but they're rarely written in plain English. Here's how to make sense of yours.
What your discharge letter contains
- ✓Diagnosis — what the hospital found and what they treated you for
- ✓Procedures — any tests, scans, or operations you had
- ✓Medications — what you should now be taking, including any new prescriptions
- ✓Follow-up — appointments you need to attend, tests to book
- ✓GP actions — things your GP needs to do (repeat prescriptions, referrals, blood tests)
Pay close attention to medication changes
The most important part of your discharge letter is the medication section. Hospital doctors often add, stop, or change medications during your stay. If your letter says 'discontinue Amlodipine' or 'start Bisoprolol 2.5mg', these changes need to happen immediately. Show the letter to your pharmacist so they can update your prescriptions.
Don't ignore the follow-up section
Discharge letters often contain instructions like 'GP to check bloods in 2 weeks' or 'outpatient appointment to follow in 6 weeks'. These are easy to forget when you're tired and relieved to be home. Read this section carefully and book any follow-up appointments as soon as possible — ideally before you leave the hospital.
Storing your discharge letter safely
Don't put your discharge letter in a drawer and forget about it. Take a photo with HealthLog and it will be scanned, named, and filed in your health vault automatically. Next time you visit your GP or another consultant, you'll have the letter on your phone — instantly accessible, clearly filed, and impossible to lose.
Questions to ask before leaving hospital
- ✓Has my medication changed? What should I take now that's different from before?
- ✓Do I need to see my GP? How soon?
- ✓Are there any warning signs I should watch for at home?
- ✓Who do I contact if I have problems after I leave?
- ✓Can someone explain the discharge letter to me before I go?
Keep the important health details in one calm place
HealthLog helps older adults and families organise medications, appointments, notes, and documents without constant checking.
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Written by
HealthLog Editorial Team
Practical guides from the HealthLog team, focused on simple health organisation for older adults, families, and carers. HealthLog content is informational and does not replace advice from a qualified health professional.