The doctors will check on you once a day. They will involve you in making plans about your care and going home. To help reach your goals and get home safely, you might also meet other members of the hospital team, including:
- Physiotherapists
- Dietitians
- Occupational Therapists
- Speech and Language Therapists
- Psychologists
- Pharmacists
- Healthcare Chaplain
If you need to speak to someone at another time, your nurses can contact them.
More information
If you would like further information, all our staff are happy to help. You can also follow the links below to access additional resources.
https://www.criticalcarerecovery.com/x3/hospital_wards/
https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/our-services/critical-care- unit
https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/patient-information
You have been very unwell in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). You are now much better and ready to take the next step towards getting back to normal life.
Recovery is different for everyone, and it will take time, often over months. You may not reach your previous health levels, but you should soon start to see improvements.
Moving from the ICU to a ward will help you take control of your recovery and regain independence. It is normal to feel anxious about this change. This leaflet will help explain what to expect on the ward and what to do if you need help.
What to expect on the ward
Physical and psychological changes
After treatment on ICU, it is common to experience weakness, tiredness and changes in your sleep, senses, mood or memory. Adequate nutrition is important even though your sense of taste and appetite may still be poor. If you are worried about anything talk to one of your nurses.
Relatives
Your family are important to your recovery, but you are now able to make more decisions for yourself. Each ward has visiting times when you can see them.
Recovery
When you are ready, the healthcare team will encourage you to do things for yourself again, which might include walking around, going to the toilet or feeding yourself. This will help you to get stronger and regain independence.
Surroundings
On the ward you will usually share a bay and a bathroom with other patients of the same sex. There will be fewer machines around, and we may remove some of your tubes and wires.
Your Healthcare Team
Moving to a ward can feel overwhelming and you may feel vulnerable. However, you are not alone. You might not see as many nurses around on the ward, because each nurse looks after several patients. Now your condition is improving, please be reassured that you do not need such close monitoring.
There will always be a nurse or healthcare assistant (HCA) nearby if you need help. HCAs will assist you with washing, dressing and mealtimes.
If you cannot see someone, you can use your call bell to ask for what you need – please be patient as this may take a little longer than on ICU. Our follow-up ICU nurses will visit most patients within a few days of leaving ICU to check how you are doing on the ward.
The email for the ICU follow-up team is: SCO.CCU.FollowUp@nca.nhs.uk.
Date of Review: November 2023
Date of Next Review: November 2025
Ref No: PI_M_1855 (Salford)