Hospital Discharge and Homelessness in Europe
The importance of hospital discharge planning should not be underestimated, especially in cases of people experiencing homelessness. A well-coordinated discharge plan can significantly reduce both hospital admissions and healthcare costs while allowing hospitals to play an important role in addressing homelessness more systematically. However, many hospital discharge policies and guidelines are not designed for patients who experience homelessness, leading to inappropriate discharges and the exacerbation of health inequalities. FEANTSA emphasizes the need to consider the specific needs of people experiencing homelessness in such policies, with housing as a crucial social determinant of health which should be central to effective and integrated discharge planning.