Former patients and their relatives are invited back for follow up consultations, usually 3-4 months after their discharge home. These appointments are nurse led and offer them the opportunity to discuss any concerns relating to their illness during their stay in ICU. Recently the ICU Team introduced Patient Diaries. These help patients fill in the missing gaps in their lives during their stay in the ICU, specifically those who have been in a coma. Once they have recovered, the completed diary, which remains the property of the patient, is returned to them if desired at the follow-up consultation.
As soon as a patient arrives on ICU, their GP is informed, and is kept up-to date with their condition.
A detailed account of the patient’s stay in ICU is sent to the GP in the discharge letter.