Our services

Support for relatives and visitors

A patient may be cared for in the Critical Care Unit because of an accident, a serious illness, or following a major operation. We understand that relatives and friends will naturally feel worried and uncertain at this time.

This page provides information to help you understand what to expect, offers reassurance, and explains where to find support when you need it.

Visiting someone unwell can feel daunting, especially if it's unexpected or your first time in the Critical Care Unit. We aim to make your visit as comfortable as possible by helping you know what to expect and where to find support.

Contact details and information on where to find the unit are available on the Critical Care Unit page. You can also find more information about visiting our hospitals on the visiting page.

What to expect when visiting a patient

Having someone you know being cared for in the Critical Care Unit can be an extremely distressing and uncertain time. The environment can feel overwhelming - you may see tubes, lines, and monitoring equipment, and hear unfamiliar alarms. These are all essential tools that help our team monitor a patient's condition closely and respond immediately if needed.

Patients in the Critical Care Unit are often very unwell and may look different to how you are used to seeing them. They may be:

drowsy or confused
swollen
bruised or have visible wounds
attached to equipment or monitoring devices

This can be upsetting, but please be assured that our team is monitoring them closely and focused on keeping them safe and comfortable.

You are welcome to talk to, touch, and comfort the person you are visiting. Even if they don't respond, hearing familiar voices can be reassuring. You might want to tell them about your day, read to them, or simply sit with them.

If you ever feel unsure or worried about anything you see or hear, please speak to a member of the nursing team.

Helpful information

Information on visiting, parking, meals, and accomodation is availalbe - just ask a member of the team.

Helping your relative or friend

You may be asked to bring in small personal items, such as music, photographs, or familiar items, where appropriate.

You can also help by:

speaking calmly and reassuringly
talking about familiar people or memories
reading aloud from a book, newspaper, or magazine
helping to complete a "who am I?" board to support personalised care

If the patient is awake but unable to speak, communication may still be possible through writing, simple hand signals, or yes/no questions.

Supporting the team

Some relatives wish to be involved in care during recovery, such as assisting with personal comfort measures. This depends on the patient’s condition and may not always be possible, but staff will guide you if appropriate.

Choosing one main contact person to receive updates can also help. This person can share information with others, allowing staff to focus on patient care.

Patient diaries

We use patient diaries for many of our patients. This can help record events, progress, and messages of support.

Many patients have unclear or missing memories of their time in the Critical Care Unit. Later on, a diary can help them make sense of what happened and recognise how far they've come.

If you would like to write in the diary or find out more, please speak to a member of staff.

Preventing infection

Patients in the Critical Care Unit are more vulnerable to infection. You can help protect your family member/friend and other patients by:

avoiding visiting if you are unwell
cleaning your hands before and after visiting
following guidance on protective clothing if required
encouraging other visitors to do the same

Supporting someone in the Critical Care Unit can be physically and emotionally exhausting. It's important to remember a few things.

You do not need to be present all the time.
Taking breaks is important for your own wellbeing
Staff will contact you if there are any significant changes.

If the patient is your partner

You may feel particularly isolated and under pressure. Practical support from friends and family can be very helpful.

You may also need advice regarding work, finances, or household responsibilities. The Critical Care Unit Team can help signpost you to appropriate services.

When a patient leaves critical care

Family members and friends often experience emotional reactions once the immediate crisis has passed. Feeling tired, low, or anxious is understandable.

Support is available through your GP and specialist organisations such as ICUsteps.

If a patient does not recover

Despite the best care, some patients are too unwell to recover. If this happens, our team will support the patient and family members/friends with compassion, dignity, and respect.

Where appropriate, there may be discussions regarding end-of-life care or organ and tissue donation. Support is available for families throughout this process, whatever decisions are made.

Please speak to staff before bringing children to visit a patient at the Critical Care Unit.

If a child does visit, please: