Translate
This leaflet answers common questions about your child/young person leaving the paediatric emergency department (A&E) at our hospitals before being discharged. If you would like further information, or have any worries, please do not hesitate to ask your nearest clinician.
What is self-discharge?
We understand that while waiting in the emergency department sometimes parents or carers decide that they no longer wish to stay to get their child or young person assessed. This leaflet explains more about this process.
If a patient goes home or is taken home before they have been formally discharged by a clinician (doctor or advanced nurse practitioner), we call this a discharge against medical advice or self-discharge.
Our nursing staff are unable to authorise the discharge of your child or young person without a thorough assessment by a clinician (doctor or advance nurse practitioner). This is because leaving the hospital before a clinician has had the opportunity to complete a full assessment could put your child/young person’s health at risk.
A complete medical assessment is crucial. This ensures that your child or young person receives the appropriate care and follow-up needed for their health problem. It is essential for their safety that this assessment is completed before any decisions are made, particularly regarding discharge.
If you have made the decision to take your child or young person from the department, this would be against medical advice and entirely at your own risk. If you do decide to leave, we would strongly advise you to seek help from alternative health services as soon as possible. This is to ensure that your child/young person receives appropriate care, such as their GP, local walk-in centre, or by calling NHS 111.
You may also find the heathier together app or website useful. It contains high quality, clear and accurate advice on a range of common conditions for children and young people.