Critical Care - Patient Diaries on Critical Care

Many patients who have had a critical illness and have been on Critical Care often have little or no memory of their Critical Care stay.

Some patients experience certain physical and emotional problems that they do not understand. These patients sometimes express feeling stressed and anxious because they do not fully remember what has happened to them.

Evidence suggests that having a patient diary can help reduce the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. A diary can also help to make sense of any delusional memories, frightened thoughts or hallucinations.

What is a patient diary?

A patient diary is a diary completed by healthcare staff, as well as relatives, to summarise what has happened day to day during a patient’s admission on Critical Care. An entry is written at any time and a photograph can be taken on admission. The photograph will remain on our system until collection of the diary to protect patient confidentiality.

A diary can help to make sense of the time spent on Critical Care and can help assist relatives with explaining what has happened. It can help to fill in the gaps which the patient cannot remember.

What can I write in the diary?

A diary is not a medical record, and no medical information will be included.

We encourage patient’s relatives and loved ones to write in the diary and include any conversations that they have had with them and things that has happened at home as they may not be able to remember it.

Some examples:

CCU Nurse
"We write down any significant events that have happened throughout the day such as sitting out of bed or going for an important scan."

Relative
"We wrote about who visited that day, football scores and news from the family."

Relative
"One of our grandchildren did a drawing of our dog which we put in the diary."

When writing in a patient diary, please avoid using any language that may cause offence.

Can I take the diary home?

The diary will always remain at the bedside. This diary can not be taken home or off the Critical Care unit.

Once the patient has been discharged, our Critical Care Follow Up team will contact them and ask if they would like to have their diary. This may either be when they are on the ward, or back in our Follow Up clinic. If they decide they no longer want the diary, the diary will be destroyed.

What do patients say about having a diary?

Feedback from patients show that reading through their dairy following their Critical Care stay has helped them recover and helped ease anxieties and worries.

"A year later, I still look through my diary and see who visited me and the Critical Care staff who looked after me."

"I was asleep for a week on Critical Care. I can look through my diary which helps me to understand what had happened and piece together the missing time."

If you require any more information or support regarding patient diaries, please contact the Critical Care Unit.

Useful information

Critical Care Unit
0161 206 8687

Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care
0161 206 5167

Websites

www.icusteps.com

Patient Experience and Rehabilitation Service Team
SCO.CCU.FollowUp@nca.nhs.uk