Abstract

This article provides an insight into the evaluation of a hospital care transfer pathway, which was operationalised with the intention of improving information for healthcare professionals and local authority staff working in home and secondary care settings, such as hospitals.

The evaluation of the Red Bag scheme provides timely reminders of the need for effective communication in any context of patient-centred care, the need for the capacity to keep learning and perhaps most importantly to remain reflective on practice every day.

The article ends with 10 specific recommendations for all staff working in the context of hospital transfer, to ensure that optimal experience for patients can be assured as far as possible.