Meet the team supporting patients on their road to recovery after being in the intensive care unit
The intensive care follow-up clinic at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton offers patients recovering from serious illness after-care to help them understand what happened to them during their time in the intensive care unit (ICU) and additional physical and psychological support to patients struggling to get their life back to normal after being discharged.
Nicki Hadfield, Senior Sister, said the team has a vital job in 'filling in the gaps' for patients who have experienced critical illness but may struggle to remember what happened to them, which can be quite hard to grasp when trying to regain normality after a traumatic event.
During her time with a patient in a follow-up appointment, Nicki will share a detailed timeline of the patient's stay in ICU and explain how unwell they were, what support they needed, any interventions they may have had and if there were any complications.
Nicki said: "Many patients can’t remember their stay in ICU but have some sort of recollection of noises, faces, voices and interventions being carried out. Some suffer hallucinations and vivid dreams. We know this is normal for some patients post-ICU for various reasons such as sedation, infection, and sleep deprivation. This allows us an opportunity to reassure the patients that they are not alone in these experiences and that this is very common in patients who have had an episode of critical illness."
Patients are able to take a friend or loved one along to their appointment for additional support and can request to be shown around the intensive care unit and revisit where they were cared for.
Helen Lee, Sister, said: "We will try to introduce them to members of the team involved in their care, which is beneficial both for the staff as well as the patient. Many patients enjoy this as it gives them an opportunity to see the environment they were in during their stay from a different perspective and gain an understanding of what all the equipment and machinery is used for. It can trigger memories and flashbacks, but it can also offer some closure to an incredibly scary and stressful experience."
The service also has benefits for the staff who work in intensive care as the team posts regular updates on a noticeboard for colleagues so they can see their patient's recovery.
While there is a criteria in place for the patient referred to the service, Helen said the team will always welcome a patient who feels they would benefit from the service and receives referrals from patients, relatives, outreach nurses, ward nurses and doctors.
Helen added: "Some patients have little insight into just how unwell they were until they attend our clinic, which can offer peace of mind when they realise why it may be taking longer than they expected to recover.
"We can almost see weight being lifted as these patients begin to understand what went on during such a scary experience.
"The impact this support can have is so significant and knowing the trauma and suffering these patients and their families have been through and then seeing them come through the other side is incredibly rewarding."
This service is a key part of our work to provide a personalised care experience to every patient and improve outcomes long-term. For many patients recovering from critical illness and after a stay in ICU, returning back to their life is not straightforward. The dedicated staff running the clinic help bridge the gap between a patient's old normal and their new normal, providing clarity.