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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 20 >> He said that he was cared for by fantastic and caring nurses of every nationality.

Was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2004. Because of complication (idiopathic thrombocytopenia, diagnosed in 2000), short stay in intensive care was planned, following surgery. Spent 8 days in intensive care and 18 days in general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 20 >> He was glad he hadn't visited ICU before surgery for cancer because it might have made him more anxious.

Was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2004. Because of complication (idiopathic thrombocytopenia, diagnosed in 2000), short stay in intensive care was planned, following surgery. Spent 8 days in intensive care and 18 days in general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 16 >> He was surprised when he first came round at how big and uncomfortable the breathing tube was, but soon got used to it.

Admitted to ICU in 1979 after heart attack. Had another heart attack in 1992 and was admitted to ICU. In 1994, had heart transplant operation and went into ICU after surgery. Back on the ward, developed septicaemia. Had another operation and then went into ICU. Developed pneumonia and spent 8 weeks in ICU. Spent 3 weeks on ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 28 >> He couldn't move or communicate his fears of a nurse trying to shoot him.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2004 because of septicaemia. Spent about 7 weeks in intensive care and 4 weeks in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 37 >> He had a road traffic accident and his first memory was of being in a ward a few weeks later.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2004 after having a motorbike accident. Spent 9 days in intensive care and 16 days in a trauma ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 03 >> He accepted that he was ill and couldn't move or communicate, but felt looked after and safe (he had Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome).

In 2002 had throat surgery and knew he would go to High Dependency Unit afterwards. Overnight, however, had Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and needed emergency bronchoscopy. Was in intensive care for 5 weeks and in ward for 5 weeks.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 02 >> He had a breathing tube in his mouth so got the nurses' attention by shaking a container that rattled (he had pneumonia).

Had very severe cold and coughing in 2005, which turned out to be pneumonia. Was in intensive care for nearly a month and in general ward for about 4 days. Has now fully recovered.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 02 >> He dreamt he was a washing machine and slept poorly because of the noise of equipment.

Had very severe cold and coughing in 2005, which turned out to be pneumonia. Was in intensive care for nearly a month and in general ward for about 4 days. Has now fully recovered.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 19 >> He couldn't move much because he was attached to lots of equipment but always had good pain relief.

Was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004. Short stay in intensive care following surgery was planned. Spent 4 days in ICU and about 2 weeks in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 05 >> She was hallucinating and pulled out one of the tubes because she thought it was something on her face.

Had pneumonia and severe sepsis. Was in intensive care for 22 days, the High Dependency Unit for 10 days and just over a week on a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 02 >> He appreciated being suctioned because it cleared his throat which helped him to breathe more easily.

Had very severe cold and coughing in 2005, which turned out to be pneumonia. Was in intensive care for nearly a month and in general ward for about 4 days. Has now fully recovered.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 29 >> She panicked about being weaned off the ventilator in case she couldn't breathe, but medical staff supported her.

Had a planned hysterectomy in 2004. Complications led to a second operation. Was admitted to intensive care because of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Spent 2 weeks in intensive care, 1 day in High Dependence Unit and 1 week in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 26 >> He panicked because having a tracheostomy triggered memories from his childhood and his father's experience of illness.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2005 because of severe pneumonia. Spent 30 days in intensive care and 8 days in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 24 >> She felt very emotional when she spoke to her grandfather and mother for the first time since being ill.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2004 because of severe pneumonia. Spent about 5 weeks in intensive care and nearly 2 weeks in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 06 >> She craved fruit juice and was gradually allowed drinks and, later, on a ward, soft foods.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2003 because of pneumonia, and developed septicaemia. Spent 3 weeks in ICU, 36 hours in a High Dependency Unit and 5 weeks on a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 04 >> At the time she worried about having her tracheostomy removed, but now the scar reminds her of what's important in life.

Had bowel complications and septicaemia. Was in intensive care for nearly 5 weeks. Spent 1 week in a High Dependency Unit and was then discharged.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 01 >> Because of her nursing experience, she fully understood what had happened to her and the treatments she was given in ICU.

Was admitted to intensive care in 1998 because of a complication during pregnancy, leading to septic shock. Was in ICU for 11 days and in general ward for 2 weeks. Recovered well and has had no further problems related to that illness.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 30 >> She would have liked more conversation and explanation from the nurses to ease her feelings of isolation.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2005 because of epiglottitis and severe sepsis. Spent about 6 days in intensive care and 5 days in a High Dependency Unit.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 71 plus >> Interview 40 >> The care he received couldn't have been better and he praised staff working at every level of the service.

Was diagnosed with an aneurysm in 2005. Intensive care stay was planned following surgery. Spent a couple of days in intensive care and a week in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 30 >> She felt that nurses were desensitised and uncaring when they put monitoring technical equipment before talking with patients.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2005 because of epiglottitis and severe sepsis. Spent about 6 days in intensive care and 5 days in a High Dependency Unit.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 03 >> His memories of intensive care flooded back to him when he visited the unit, and he now feels strongly about helping others who are recovering from cr

In 2002 had throat surgery and knew he would go to High Dependency Unit afterwards. Overnight, however, had Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and needed emergency bronchoscopy. Was in intensive care for 5 weeks and in ward for 5 weeks.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 29 >> She was glad she visited ICU because this time she saw it as it really is and not as the 'scary' place she'd felt it was when she was seriously ill.

Had a planned hysterectomy in 2004. Complications led to a second operation. Was admitted to intensive care because of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Spent 2 weeks in intensive care, 1 day in High Dependence Unit and 1 week in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 11 >> She and her husband were shocked when they saw their 14-month-old daughter in intensive care, even though she was a nurse and knew what to expect.

Her 14-month-old daughter was admitted to intensive care in 2002 because of pneumococcal meningitis. Sadly, she died. Her organs were donated to help two other children survive.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 08 >> He advises people not to be afraid of intensive care because the nursing care and treatments are of a very high standard.

Was admitted to ICU four times between 1994 and 2004 because of heart attack, angina, pneumonia and heart failure. In 2004, heart failure and chest infection led to a stay in ICU of about 10 days. Sadly, he died in February 2006.