Hospital discharge and community support: policy and operating model

This updated document sets out the hospital discharge service operating model (opens new window) for all NHS trusts, community interest companies, and private care providers of NHS-commissioned acute, community beds, community health services and social care staff in England.

The discharge to assess model has been implemented since March 2020 with an intention to support more people to be discharged to their own home. Health and social care systems are expected to build on this work during the first half of 2021 to 2022 to embed discharge to assess across England as the default process for hospital discharge during the funded period.