Leaving Children’s Hospital

Planning for your child’s discharge begins early in their hospital stay. Talking with your care team about what to expect after leaving the hospital can help make the transition home smoother and less stressful. Below, you’ll find discharge checklists to help you prepare, including what to ask, what to pack, and how to arrange follow-up care or support at home. 

Discharge Instructions  

Your care team will help you understand your child’s care, treatments, medications, diet, and follow-up appointments before you leave the hospital. We encourage you to review this information with a member of your care team, and to ask for additional instructions as needed.

Please be prepared to leave the hospital at your scheduled discharge time. We make every effort to accurately predict the day and time of discharge, but your discharge may occur earlier or later than planned. Your care team will keep you up to date on any changes to your discharge time.

Any equipment or services needed at home would need to be assessed by an Ontario Health atHome Care Coordinator prior to discharge. All children who are receiving existing community services need to contact the Ontario Health atHome Care Coordinator at extension 52249 before going home. If a child’s hospital stay is longer than 14 days, a new referral needs to be made to the Ontario Health atHome. Nursing staff can help facilitate the doctor’s referral required to access Ontario Health atHome services.

Traveling Home

We want to make sure your child gets home safely after their hospital stay. By law, all children must travel in an approved car seat. Please bring your child’s car seat when you come to pick them up. If your child has mobility or transfer needs, a physiotherapist or occupational therapist will help you explore safe transportation options.

You are responsible for arranging your child’s ride home on the day of discharge. If you don’t have a ride, you’ll need to book and pay for another option, such as a taxi or stretcher vehicle. Ask your nurse for the Ambulance & Non-Ambulance Medical Transports brochure to learn more about available services.

LHSC's Trauma Program offers one-on-one consultations, both virtually and in-person, with certified Car Seat Technicians to check if your car seats are installed properly. Please visit the Car Seat Education Program page to learn more and schedule a consultation. 

Discharge To-Do List 

If you would like support organizing your child’s health care information, please visit the Paediatric Family Resource Centre and ask for the “My Care Binder and My Care Journal.”