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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 29 >> She found the physiotherapists kind and encouraging, and the exercises made her feel she could do things to help herself get better.

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 24 >> She started off by just being able to stand up and sit down but could eventually walk down the ward.

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 41-50 >> Interview 25 >> He was eager to recover and was sometimes already at the gym doing exercises when the physiotherapist came looking for him.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2003 because of severe pneumonia, septicaemia, liver abcess and kidney failure. Spent about 4 weeks in intensive care and 2 weeks in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 71 plus >> Interview 22 >> The physiotherapists were 'brilliant', sometimes visiting him twice a day, and he continued with physiotherapy when he returned home.

Was admitted to ICU in 2004 because of a rare infection caused by slight dog bite. Had finger and toes amputated. Was in intensive care for 17 days and was discharged after a short stay in a general ward. Later attended another hospital for skin grafts.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 36 >> Physiotherapists, carers and an occupational therapist helped her until she was strong enough to do more for herself.

Was admitted to hospital in 2005 for surgery to remove a brain tumour. Complications, including a pulmonary embolism and breathing difficulties, led to intensive care admission.