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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 22 >> He was shocked when he was told his wife could die if she didn't have surgery to remove a kidney that very evening.

His wife had emergency surgery to remove a kidney. He found it difficult to discuss his feelings but received comfort from sitting alone in the hospital chapel.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 16 >> She felt her son still needed one to one nursing care because he couldn't move his fingers or head when he was well but, after being in ICU, was even

She cares for her 13-year-old son, who has congenital muscular dystrophy. In 2003 he had a serious chest infection and was admitted to a peadiatric ICU.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 07 >> One of the nurses took her son outside when he was in HDU and having so much more to look at helped him become more alert and aware.

Their son was admitted to ICU in 2005 with bacterial meningitis. It was a traumatic time but he is now back home and has made excellent progress.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 33 >> As her husband began to improve she read out cards and messages of support and, when he had a valve put into his tracheotomy tube, he was able to begi

Her husband was admitted to ICU after having emergency surgery. It was particularly difficult looking after other family members as well as visiting her husband.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 18 >> Although she was very weak, gradually her friend was able to sit up, stand, walk with a Zimmer frame and have nutritional drinks to help her recovery.

Her best friend spent two weeks in ICU. She was the closest person to her, visited her daily and is now her main carer.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 13 >> Her husband, who'd had liver disease, improved slightly at first but was then re-admitted to ICU from HDU and died two days later.

In 2006 her husband had liver disease and pneumonia and sadly died in ICU. She has gained strength from having counselling and from her spirituality.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 11 >> She wished all hospitals with ICUs also had HDUs so that intensive care patients would not have to go straight from ICU to a ward.

Her husband was diagnosed with pneumonia. She was happy with the nursing care he received in ICU but concerned about information and one of his treatments.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 07 >> They were disappointed that nurses were not doing more for their son and she ended up feeding, washing, changing and shaving him every day.

Their son was admitted to ICU in 2005 with bacterial meningitis. It was a traumatic time but he is now back home and has made excellent progress.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 29 >> He felt his partner's mother was transferred to a ward too soon and if her husband hadn't been there, she might not have got the help she needed.

His partner's mother was admitted to ICU after an accident in the home. He lived with them at the time and tried to provide emotional support.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 23 >> He valued the support outreach nurses had given him and his partner before she was admitted to ICU and would have liked more support from them later o

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.