Leaving hospital
- John Kingston, Clinical Nurse Manager 3
- 3 minute read
- Last updated: September 2023
Leaving hospital following a stroke can be an anxious time. You might be worried about what lies ahead, what lifestyle adjustments you need to make and how you are going to manage going forward. This page will help you prepare to leave hospital and transition easily to the next stage of your recovery.
Going home
This video explains six practical steps that will help a stroke survivor to manage over the first few days after leaving hospital.
Medication
Your medications have likely changed since your stroke, so make sure to ask your nurse/doctor any questions you may have about your new prescription. It is important that you take your new prescription to your pharmacy when you leave hospital to make sure you have the correct supply.
Blood pressure monitoring
Monitoring your blood pressure is a vital part of recovering from your stroke. Before leaving hospital, ask your nurse/doctor to advise you of your target blood pressure. You can buy a blood pressure monitor at your local pharmacy.
Learn more about monitoring blood pressure
GP follow up
Be sure to arrange an appointment with your GP (family doctor) in the first few days after you arrive home. Even if you feel well, this appointment will help you review your medications and plan your future care.
If you have a medical card or GP visit card, ask your GP about whether the free Chronic Diseases Management Programme would be suitable for you.
Learn more about the Chronic Diseases Management Programme
Getting back to normal
On arriving home, you may feel like you want to rush back into your normal routine. It is important that you take your time to adjust and take stock. Give yourself time to settle at home, talk to friends and family and take extra rest if you need to. Teach your friends and family the BE FAST acronym so that they know what signs and symptoms to look out for.
Other information
Top Tips
Feeling unwell
Trust what your body is telling you. If you feel unwell, contact your GP or stroke team. If you have stroke symptoms, call 999 or 112, do not delay!
John Kingston | Clinical Nurse Manager 3 |
Prevent medication mix-ups
Bring your old medications into your pharmacy when collecting your new prescription. This will help to avoid any mix-ups.
John Kingston | Clinical Nurse Manager 3 |
Take it easy
Allow yourself time to adjust to your new routine and make recovery your priority. You don’t have to rush straight back into your responsibilities.
John Kingston | Clinical Nurse Manager 3 |
Frequently asked questions
Yes, ask your doctor to write on your prescription that your medications should be blister packed.
You should follow the advice you received from the hospital. Depending on your stroke, you may need to speak to your GP or stroke team before returning to driving.
