On ICU Rehabilitation Day, we thank all the multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals involved in the treatment, care and rehabilitation of intensive care patients, in hospital and in the community.
We set up our #RehabIsCritical campaign in 2021 to highlight that people urgently need help to make their best recovery after critical illness. Recovery can take up to 18 months and sometimes longer and people need support and rehabilitation to enable them to thrive after critical illness, not just survive.
Take the information pledge
This year, our focus is also on information provision and its key role in helping patients and relatives during ICU and their recovery.
For #ICURehabDay22, we are calling on intensive care units to stand with us in supporting patient recovery by taking the ICUsteps Information Pledge.
By signing up, ICUs pledge to provide comprehensive, good quality, accessible information to patients and relatives during their time in ICU and information for their recovery. This includes information on what happened to them in ICU, what to expect during their recovery and what may help their recovery.
Find out more and take the Information Pledge.
How rehabilitation affects patient recovery
We've also commissioned artwork from Zara Slattery, former ICU patient and the author of Coma, to showcase the importance of rehabilitation and the difference it makes to the patient experience.
Rehab staff taught me how to stand up, how to walk with a frame, use a wheelchair, walk with a stick and then walk unaided.
We are delighted to be supported by Michael Rosen- poet, performer, broadcaster, Former Children's Laureate and former ICU patient: “ICU staff saved my life and helped me to get better. Rehab staff taught me how to stand up, how to walk with a frame, use a wheelchair, walk with a stick and then walk unaided. They helped me to help myself get better. I will be forever grateful to them all. I am quite overwhelmed by their devotion, hard work, skill, kindness and level of care. Aside from my family and friends, all those wonderful people have become the most important people in my life.”
“At every stage, NHS staff told me and my wife what was going on, what was happening to me, what medication I was on, what was the next step. Sometimes this was told to us, other times we had emails or print-outs. I was always asked if I understood what I was being told and I was asked if I wanted to know more. I'm the kind of person who needs this kind of information in order to cope with the huge and worrying changes that I was going through. I don't like being mystified and I don't like leaving it to my imagination. I want to know what the doctors, nurses and practitioners know! And I got that every time. Thanks so much!”
Please do join us on 22.7.22 to thank everyone involved in critical care rehabilitation and to showcase the vital work they do! Post photos of your team on Twitter using the hashtag #ICURehabDay22