A SURVEY of discharge arrangements in Blackburn hospitals has been hailed a success by health bosses.

The investigation sparked concern after 15 per cent of patients said they were not well enough to go home.

But health chiefs say the study showed that most could be assured of a safe and effective return to the community.

They said arrangements for leaving hospital were in general planned as early as possible during the patient's stay and that most were satisfied with the manner of their discharge. A joint statement from East Lancashire Health Authority, the Blackburn NHS Trust and Blackburn and District Community Health Council, said: "More than 88 per cent of patients were happy with arrangements about where they should go on leaving.

"More than three-quarters felt that transport modes for the journey home met their needs and more than 80 per cent said they had been given enough time before leaving hospital to make personal arrangements."

But they accepted there was room for improvement. The CHC, which did the survey, has tabled recommendations.

These include better communication between hospital and social work staff and eliminating the wait for medication before a patient is discharged.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.