About the ICU follow-up clinic

The ICU follow-up clinic is run once a month by senior members of the Critical Care Team.

We will offer you an appointment if you have been a patient in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 4 days or more. This will be 6 to 8 weeks after you leave hospital. If you cannot get to the hospital, we can give advice on the phone.

We will use any feedback to improve our services.

Relatives or carers can refer their family member to us directly.

What to expect

At the clinic, you will be able to:

  • discuss your experience of ICU and your recovery
  • discuss problems or concerns
  • understand any troublesome or confusing memories you have from when you were in ICU
  • give us feedback
  • visit the ICU and see the staff
  • get help, support and advice from experienced health care professionals, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists.

Recovery after ICU

It is common to have physical and psychological problems after being a patient in ICU. These problems may last well beyond the initial symptoms that led to the stay. They may even slow your recovery. 

Our aim is to assess any problems and help you manage them so that you can recover as much as possible.  

These problems might include the following.

Physical problems Psychological problems
  • Muscle wasting
  • Fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Loss of appetite
  • Poor mobility
  • Sexual problems
  • Poor sleep
  • Poor concentration
  • Low energy levels
  • Poor memory
  • Breathing problems
  • Voice changes
  • Sensory changes
  • Anxiety
  • Guilt
  • Lack of confidence
  • Personality changes
  • Irritability
  • Memory loss
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Depression
  • Hallucinations
  • Grief
  • Relationship problems 

 

About the ICU Psychology Clinic

At our ICU Clinical Psychology Clinic, we aim to help with any of the psychological problems that are common after being a patient in ICU (listed above). Your appointment is the chance to find out what the best options are for you.

What to expect

At your first appointment, the psychologist will talk to you to get a full understanding of your problems.

This will involve a detailed discussion of your present difficulties and their effect on your daily life. You can talk about how and when they started and what you have been doing to manage them. This may include information about your life history and you will also be asked to complete some questionnaires. We will spend up to an hour on this. 

At the end of this meeting, we aim to understand your problems and their origins. We will then discuss what the best service is for you.

You will be working together with the psychologist on understanding your problem. It is not a matter of simply telling you what to do. You will need to be actively involved in whatever therapy you are recommended.

Bringing a friend or relative

You are very welcome to bring someone with you to the appointment if you wish. They can join the meeting if you feel comfortable talking in front of them.

Talking to the psychologist

It is very common to worry about talking to a stranger. The psychologist will not press you to talk about anything if you don’t want to. Many people actually find it is easier to talk to someone they do not know.

Confidentiality

The psychologist will take notes during your appointment. These are kept securely and confidentially.

We do discuss your problems with other professionals directly involved in your care, for example, your hospital doctor or GP. This is so that they know what kind of therapy you are having. However, we will not pass on details if you ask us not to, as long as this does not affect your or someone else’s safety.

Contact information

ICU follow-up clinic

 

Telephone:

020 8934 2266

020 8934 2267

Email: krft.icurehab@nhs.net