What To Expect
If you are a patient or carer of someone who has been admitted to critical care, you might have lots of questions. This area has been developed to help provide information and support for patients and their loved ones.
What is Critical Care?
Critical Care is an essential hospital service providing specialised care for patients who are, or who are at risk of becoming seriously ill. Patients admitted to critical care often require support for one or more of their vital organs such as their lungs, heart or kidneys. These patients require much closer observation and clinical interventions that cannot be provided on a standard hospital ward. People can be admitted to critical care as a result of major trauma following road traffic accidents, or as an acute medical emergency, patients who are not critically unwell may be admitted to critical care if they require very close monitoring such as after major surgery. Critical illness is often sudden, unexpected and potentially life-threatening. It requires the skills and knowledge of the critical care team to safely support and manage these very sick patients.
Our aim as a network is to 'ensure every patient requiring critical care receives safe & effective high-quality care.' This is achieved through robust quality assurance processes & collaborative working across all stakeholder sites in Lancashire & South Cumbria
Our aim as a network is to 'ensure every patient requiring critical care receives safe & effective high-quality care.' This is achieved through robust quality assurance processes & collaborative working across all stakeholder sites in Lancashire & South Cumbria
What to expect in Critical Care
It can be quite frightening when you come to visit a loved one who is a patient in critical care. It is natural to feel upset and worried. Most patients in critical care will be connected to different pieces of equipment. These may include a monitor, machines, ‘drips’ and ‘lines’. You may hear an alarm sounding, this does not always mean there is a problem and usually, there is nothing to worry about. The staff on the unit will be able to help you understand what is happening and what any equipment around the bed is for.
Your local critical care Unit will also have a range of leaflets and initiatives such as patient experience surveys and patient support groups. To find out more about how the unit staff can support you or your loved one please speak to the staff on the unit.
Support is also available through ICU steps, discussed below, for:
Your local critical care Unit will also have a range of leaflets and initiatives such as patient experience surveys and patient support groups. To find out more about how the unit staff can support you or your loved one please speak to the staff on the unit.
Support is also available through ICU steps, discussed below, for:
- Relatives and loved-ones during a patients stay in critical care; and
- ex-patients once out of hospital and along the recover journey.
ICU Steps
The Intensive Care Unit Support Teams for ex-ICU Patients (ICUsteps) was founded in 2005 by ex- patients, their relatives and ICU staff to support patients and their families through the long road to recovery from critical illness.
Our aims are to:
The ICU Steps web pages have lots of information for patients and their families which can help guide you through the steps of a critical care journey and subsequent recovery. Additionally, the site has a forum for discussion points for relatives and ex-patients to discuss experiences and also help people share expectations for recovery. It helps understand what is normal following a stay in Critical Care and simplify the understanding of what has happened to you.
Their web site can be accessed by clicking the link below.
Our aims are to:
- Support patients and relatives affected by critical illness;
- Promote recognition of the physical and psychological consequences of critical illness through education of the medical profession and the general public;
- Encourage research into treatment and the prevention of these issues;
The ICU Steps web pages have lots of information for patients and their families which can help guide you through the steps of a critical care journey and subsequent recovery. Additionally, the site has a forum for discussion points for relatives and ex-patients to discuss experiences and also help people share expectations for recovery. It helps understand what is normal following a stay in Critical Care and simplify the understanding of what has happened to you.
Their web site can be accessed by clicking the link below.
Critical Care Support Network
Critical Care Support Network (CC-SN) is an online patient Charity which provide support for Patients and Relatives in the recovery from critical illness. They provide drop in session for patients and relatives as well as exercise, relaxation and craft classes. From the beginning their aim has been to help all Critical Care patients and their families, make the best possible recovery from their illness.
Please click below to access their website
Please click below to access their website
Patient and Carer Feedback
Receiving feedback from patients and their carers/family will help us to know what we are doing well and where we may be able to make improvements to the care we provide. We know that all our units will have access to the National Friends and Family Test, and you may receive feedback questionnaire if you have attended a critical care follow up clinic.
We do recognise that you may not want to feedback whilst you are in hospital, or you may not have the opportunity. It is always good to know how we are doing, so if you would like to let us know please contact us by clicking on the link below.
We do recognise that you may not want to feedback whilst you are in hospital, or you may not have the opportunity. It is always good to know how we are doing, so if you would like to let us know please contact us by clicking on the link below.