Moving to a ward
When you no longer require the high level of medical care provided in critical care, you will move to a ward. This may be
- a ward within the same hospital,
- a transfer to a different hospital closer to home, or
- to a specialist rehabilitation unit.
Occasionally people are discharged home straight from critical care.
Follow up care
Wherever you go following your stay, the staff who have been caring for you on critical care will make sure that all important information about you and your critical care stay is handed over. We do this to try to make sure that your transfer is as smooth as possible and that you continue with your recovery as soon as you move out of critical care.
While we aim to address any problems relating to your stay in critical care whilst you are still on the critical care unit, many people will require ongoing support. You may require support from Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Psychology when discharged to the ward. We therefore, work closely with our colleagues working across the hospital wards to make sure that the appropriate follow up care is received.
You can also ask your Doctor or Nurse to refer you to one of the above therapists if you feel that it would be useful.
If you are worried ...
It is common for people to feel nervous or worried about leaving critical care. If you are feeling worried about this, it is important that you tell someone. The staff on critical care can answer your questions, explain the process and help you understand what to expect when you move.
