Experiences of People with Learning Disabilities on Discharge from Hospital Into the Community: A Narrative Analysis

Many people with learning disabilities currently live in hospital settings in the UK. The Transforming Care programme has aimed to support their move to community living, but its success has been limited, particularly in ensuring effective discharge processes. A review of the existing literature in this area found this often focuses on the challenges and support needs of people with learning disabilities during discharge, neglecting the strengths, skills, and resources they actively employ. In relation to this, the use of a narrative approach as a methodology has largely been overlooked. Therefore, this study aims to analyse how people with learning disabilities story their discharge experiences from hospital to the community, using a narrative approach.

A qualitative approach was adopted, drawing on the accounts of five participants discharged from various inpatient settings to the community. Interviews were analysed using narrative analysis, which involved the transcripts being reviewed several times in order to construct individual narrative accounts. Emerging themes (storylines) and secondary narratives (sub-stories) were also identified by examining for similarities and differences across these accounts.

The findings demonstrate how people with learning disabilities construct rich, multi-layered narratives that enhance understanding of their discharge experiences. Three main storylines emerged across the participants. These were (1) challenges in navigating the discharge process, (2) drawing on strengths, supports, and resources, and (3) the realities of community life. These findings are considered within the broader socio-political context for people with learning disabilities.

This study illuminates participants' stories of discharge from hospital to the community. Suggestions about possibilities for future research and implications for clinical practice are also made.