Challenges and complexities of discharge planning from a district nursing perspective

Over the past 30 years, the Government has been promoting the transition of care from the acute setting to the community setting. Within the community setting, district nurses are described in the latest reports as endorsers of the care close to home. However, with the surge in hospital discharge, the district nursing workforce is faced with further pressure to cope with the drive to move care into the community. The purpose of this extended literature review (ELR) was to deconstruct the available data on the challenges and hurdles experienced by district nurses to manage hospital discharge. On reviewing the selected data, it was found that fragmented communication between secondary and primary sectors poses problems for effective care in the community. Additionally, the lack of understanding of the district nursing service and its remits creates obstacles for effective hospital discharge. Some practical solutions to resolve these problems are proposed.