A telephone survey of medical patients 1 week after discharge from hospital

The telephone is an effective means of communication and its use is growing as a means of offering members of the public access to health‐care agencies for advice and support. Acute hospital beds are at a premium and as lengths of stay in hospital continue to fall there is an increasing need for effective discharge planning and post‐discharge support. Eighty‐five patients (58 men and 27 women) were interviewed over the telephone 1 week after discharge from a medical ward. Over half of the patients reported health problems and one‐fifth reported social problems. Almost half of the patients sought advice. Telephone follow‐up would appear to be a useful means of monitoring a patient's progress and providing an opportunity for patients seeking, or nurses offering, advice and support.