An NHS patients' group has said vulnerable people were still being discharged from hospital without the right support in place, despite efforts to improve the process.
Healthwatch Thurrock reported a rise in "failed" or unsafe discharges last year from Basildon, Southend and Broomfield hospitals which had left some patients without care, medication or follow‑up instructions.
Thurrock Council's adult and health services overview and scrutiny committee was told by Healthwatch's chief operating officer Kim James that the same issues continued to surface.
Basildon Hospital said improvements were under way, including successful winter initiatives to speed up safe discharges and reduce bed occupancy.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, James said Healthwatch was often forced to intervene because hospitals, GP practices and community teams were unaware a patient had been sent home.
"We get family members who are really concerned that their mother has suddenly arrived home when they live miles away and didn't know she was due home," she told the committee.
"Care agencies often haven't been alerted, so they don't pick up the care package."
One resident reported his 91‑year‑old mother, who had dementia, was discharged without the family being told.
She wandered outside after returning home, and a neighbour had to raise the alarm, it was claimed.
"He didn't even know she was home and thought she was still in hospital," James said.
Other residents said they had been sent home with dressings or medical supplies but no instructions on how to use them.
James said patients were also calling GP surgeries to have their dressings changed only to find no appointments were available for up to three weeks.
The three hospitals are run by the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, whose chief executive Dawn Scrafield said even isolated cases were unacceptable.
"Just having one patient in that situation is not right," she said.
Cherry West, managing director of Basildon University Hospital, added: “The fantastic work that’s been going on around the Integrated Care Transfer Hub - it’s just been phenomenal.
“And if we compare the number of patients that are now delayed and awaiting discharge compared to last year, the numbers have come down significantly.
“I looked at the data and there were actually zero discharge delays for Thurrock residents.
“So, there is fantastic joint work that’s going on with Thurrock and us as a hospital [but] I think there’s always more for us to learn and always more for us to do.”