Where a relevant trust is responsible for an adult hospital patient and considers that the patient is likely to require care and support following discharge from hospital, the relevant trust must, as soon as is feasible after it begins making any plans relating to the discharge, take any steps that it considers appropriate to involve—
In performing the duty under subsection (1), a relevant trust must have regard to any guidance issued by NHS England.
For the purposes of this section, a relevant trust is responsible for a hospital patient if the relevant trust manages the hospital.
In this section—
"adult" means a person aged 18 or over;
"carer" means an individual who provides or intends to provide care for an adult, otherwise than by virtue of a contract or as voluntary work;
"relevant trust" means—an NHS trust established under section 25 of the National Health Service Act 2006, oran NHS foundation trust.