Critically ill patients helped by new service at the West Suffolk Hospital

10 November 2000

From January patients who have had a prolonged stay in intensive care at the West Suffolk Hospital will be offered an appointment at a special follow up clinic.

Although other hospitals are looking at this service the West Suffolk is the first in the Eastern Region of the NHS to get the clinics up and running.

Recovery of patients, following a stay in intensive care, may take a very long time. They often experience psychological problems which can be likened to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Sister Hayley Hutchinson, who has been instrumental in setting up the clinic, said: "Patients in intensive care are often sedated for a long period of time requiring many different types of drugs.

"Being close to death, and often having little or no memory of the time spent in intensive care, can be very traumatic for patients. Problems with sleeping, stress and other health complaints often arise when patients return home," she said.

As part of the new service, patients who are discharged from intensive care onto a general ward will be visited by Sister Hutchinson and Senior Staff Nurse Denise Stubbs from the intensive care unit. They will act as a link and be able to answer any questions and concerns they may have, which ward staff may be unable to answer.

Following discharge home patients will receive an invitation to attend three follow-up clinics on the first Friday of every month, starting in January 2001. Patients will attend a clinic two, six and 12 months post hospital discharge. Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Pamela Chrispin and Sister Hayley Hutchinson or Senior Staff Nurse Denise Stubbs will run the clinics.

“We can discuss a broad spectrum of subjects which may be of concern to the patient, including problems with sexuality, broken sleep, scars, breathing and pain control," said Sister Hutchinson.

“By identifying problems at an early stage we can refer patients on for appropriate treatment or counselling. Prompt action can prevent re-admission to hospital and take the pressure off family and community services.

“It can take a year or more for some patients to recover and many need to be reassured that this is quite normal,” she said.

“Patients will be asked to feedback on their stay in intensive care and by acting on their comments and suggestions we can continue to improve the quality of patient care,” she said.