The SIGN discharge document

The SIGN discharge document was published in 2012 and is now over ten years old.

Remit and target users

The aim of this document is to present a template for a single discharge document that can be used as both the immediate discharge document (in its core format) for every patient on the day of discharge, and as the final discharge summary/letter (in its extended format) for more complex cases.

The discharge document is of relevance to all hospital medical and nursing staff, allied health professionals, general practitioners, community nurses, pharmacists, and out-of-hours services.

How this document was developed

This document was developed through review of SIGN 65: The immediate discharge document by a multidisciplinary group. Further details can be found in section 5 of the document .

Keeping up to date

This guideline was issued in 2012. The review history, and any updates to the guideline in the interim period, will be noted in the review report.

Some recommendations may be out of date, declaration of interests governance may not be in line with current policy.