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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Suspending normal routines: visiting ICU every day >> Suspending normal routines: visiting ICU every day

Suspending normal routines: visiting ICU every day

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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 12 >> The day after her son died, she saw another patient in the same bed he'd been lying in, fighting for his life.

In 2005 her 21-year-old son sadly died in ICU. She focuses as much as she can on remembering the good memories they shared.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 23 >> Ask questions, trust the staff and be there for the patient.

In 2006 his partner spent four weeks in ICU because of pneumonia. He visited her every day, sharing the visiting with his partner's parents.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 02 >> She felt her husband looked like a stranger after his mountain bike accident and dreaded breaking the news to his parents.

In 2003 her husband had an accident while cycling on his mountain bike in woods close to their home. The accident left him with a serious head injury, fractures to his neck and spine, and a collapsed lung.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 36 >> He and his father visited the ICU bed his father had been in at a follow-up appointment and learnt that he'd had a rare form of pneumonia.

His father went to ICU after having a stroke and developing pneumonia. Members of the family supported one another and he is now closer to his sister.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 01 >> She was shocked when she saw her sister in ICU She'd been temporarily paralysed by her illness she was heavily sedated and her eyes were rolling [she

In March 2005 her sister was diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome. This is a rare disorder of the peripheral nerves, those outside the brain and spinal chord.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 37 >> Although, due to his work, he felt he knew all about intensive care units he was completely unprepared for how he'd feel seeing his own wife there.

His wife spent 49 days in ICU because of severe lung problems. After her illness, he became involved in helping improve services for ICU patients.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 09 >> Everything was explained to them so, when they left ICU, they felt their son was in safe hands and would receive all the care he needed.

Her son had lymphoma and bowel perforation and sadly died on a ward. She felt doctors should explain information clearly to relatives, who are usually unfamiliar with medical terms.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 37 >> All her visitors found it distressing seeing his wife in ICU but he noticed that men and women often reacted differently.

His wife spent 49 days in ICU because of severe lung problems. After her illness, he became involved in helping improve services for ICU patients.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 01 >> Her sister's friend sometimes drove people to the hospital, looked after her sister's home and garden, and visited her every day in ICU.

In March 2005 her sister was diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome. This is a rare disorder of the peripheral nerves, those outside the brain and spinal chord.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 08 >> Because a friend had previously been in ICU after a car accident, he knew what to expect when his wife was admitted to intensive care after having eme

His wife was admitted to ICU after having complications during emergency surgery. During her time in hospital he had a lot of support from family and his local community.