Supporting Patients After Intensive Care

Leaving ICU is a major milestone, but recovery is often slow and unpredictable. Many people describe the transition from ICU → ward → home as the hardest part of their journey.

Common experiences include:

• Feeling “dropped” after leaving ICU
• Difficulty understanding what happened
• Loss of confidence and independence
• Emotional distress and fatigue

ICUsteps reports that survivors often feel abandoned after discharge and struggle to access coordinated support.

You will hear from specialist nurses from the North of England Critical Care Network, followed by an opportunity to explore how hospitals and social prescribers can work more closely to meet the needs of this group of patients.