What should happen before you are discharged from critical care

Information for the public

When you are discharged from critical care, you are likely to be cared for on another ward in the hospital. Before you are discharged from critical care you should have another health check (short clinical assessment) to identify any physical or psychological problems.

If the health check shows that you could benefit from more structured support, you should then have a more detailed health check (comprehensive clinical assessment) to identify your current rehabilitation needs.

Your healthcare team should talk to you about your rehabilitation goals and your rehabilitation programme, both of which should take into account the results of your health checks and be tailored to your individual needs. Your family and/or carer should be involved unless you disagree.

Information and support

You should be given the following information before, or soon after, your discharge from critical care. Your family and/or carer should also be given the information, unless you disagree.

Your rehabilitation programme.
How the care you receive in critical care and on the general ward will differ, how you might adjust to this and ways to cope with possible problems, for example sleeping problems, nightmares and hallucinations.
Your transfer from critical care to a different team of doctors and nurses.
Any possible short-term and/or long-term physical or psychological problems which may require help.