Critical Care Follow Up Clinic
Critical Care encompasses the High Dependency and Intensive Care areas.
We are aware that critically ill patients may experience significant psychological and or physical problems beyond any diagnosed condition. Although some of these problems may be related directly to a specific diagnosis, others are more generic and reflect extremes of general illness and the challenges of prolonged intensive care stay. The effects of critical illness not only affect the patient and their relatives during their stay, but often for a considerable time afterwards as well.
The importance of patient follow up is widely recognised as complementing the work of the Critical Care team. This service offers support and advice during the recovery period and the opportunity for patients and their families to share their experience with the staff.
Why Follow Up Our Patients?
Patients who have been critically ill may experience many problems, including fatigue, muscle wasting, weight loss, loss of appetite or taste, skin and nail changes, hair loss, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, poor concentration, anxiety, guilt, lack of confidence, personality changes, irritability, memory loss or post traumatic stress disorder.
It is not uncommon for our patients to recall little of their stay. Lack of memory of their illness makes it harder for them to accept the length of time required for convalescence. Patients often have unrealistic expectations of recovery, which may lead, to frustration.
What Does Our Follow up Service Offer?
At present all patients on the Intensive Care Unit for four days or more, are offered a follow up appointment approximately two months after their discharge. Further appointments can be arranged depending on the amount of support required. Patients, who are in-patients, on a general ward at two months, will be visited either at Clatterbridge or Arrowe Park Hospital sites. Those patients admitted for high dependency care, who display some of the above symptoms may also be offered this service.
The clinic is held on the Intensive Care Unit. It is not a group session but an individual appointment, lasting approximately forty-five minutes. At the clinic you will be seen by a consultant Anaesthetist and experienced Critical Care Sister and High Dependency Nurse.
What Does Our Follow up Service Provide?
- Our patients and their families are provided with the opportunity to re-visit the unit and gives them time to discuss their perceived problems with experienced staff that have knowledge of their illness and of the care they received whilst on the unit
- Coherent explanations of troublesome or confusing memories
- Interpretation of complex information that may have been misunderstood or misinterpreted during their stay
- Support and advice, ensuring a multidisciplinary approach whenever possible
- Appropriate referrals to other departments when necessary
- The opportunity for feedback from patients and their families regarding their experience in order to improve the service in the future where appropriate
- All patients are asked to complete two widely recognised health assessment questionnaires, The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HAD) and the SF 36v2 Health Survey to establish their mental and physical state. A letter is then sent to their own General Practitioner documenting our findings; support and advice is offered and further appointments given if necessary. Some patients may need referral to other specialities or to outside agencies
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Arrowe Park Hospital, Arrowe Park Road, Upton, Wirral, Merseyside CH49 5PE
Switchboard: (0151) 678 5111