Following admission to Critical Care you are invited back to the Adult Critical Care follow up clinic.
The follow up clinic is run by experienced Critical Care staff, and you will speak to either a Consultant or a Specialist Nurse. You can choose to attend your appointment in person or by telephone. Appointments would be expected to last approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Family members can also attend your appointment.
Admission to Critical Care is often unplanned and can be lifechanging for many different reasons. Recovery from critical illness takes time, can be stressful and often is not straightforward. We can explore any concerns you may have and offer relevant help or advice. The majority of patients find the appointment very helpful.
The aim of the follow up clinic is to support you and your family in your ongoing recovery, it gives you the opportunity to:
- Discuss the reasons why you were admitted to Critical Care and answer any questions you may have.
- Discuss physical changes that resulted from admission to Critical Care e.g weakness, fatigue, reduced mobility.
- Discuss psychological consequences associated with your stay in Critical Care, e.g. depression, flashbacks, nightmares, changes to mood, all of which are normal. It is possible that you may have minimal recollection of your time with us, but hopefully we can fill in any gaps.
- Sign post or refer you to additional support either physical or psychological
More information and support for anyone effected by an admission to Critical Care is available at www.icusteps.org