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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 30 & under >> Interview 06 >> His father went to hospital with stomach pains but when he developed pneumonia he was transferred to ICU.

In May 2006 his father was admitted to ICU because of pneumonia and was still in hospital at the time of interview.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 18 >> Her friend was scared about being on a busy ward and having to do more for herself when she was still very weak.

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 51-60 >> Interview 04 >> Her son had to have his own room because he had MRSA but she felt he was in danger of injuring himself whenever he tried to walk and that he needed su

In October 2004, her son had a motorbike accident and was admitted to ICU. He had a serious head injury and broken jaw.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 27 >> She felt her husband needed specialist support for his brain injury but wasn't getting this on the ward he was moved to.

Her husband had cardiac arrest and was admitted to ICU. She is his full-time carer and worries about leaving him on his own because of his memory.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 27 >> Her husband was improving but became dehydrated and developed a kidney infection, which set him back again.

Her husband had cardiac arrest and was admitted to ICU. She is his full-time carer and worries about leaving him on his own because of his memory.

• 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 61-70 >> Interview 31 >> Because his wife was too weak to feed herself and the nurses were too busy to feed each patient individually, he was allowed to come in and help with

He cares full-time for his wife, who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 1998. She has been admitted to ICU several times and recently had a stroke.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 27 >> She visited her husband on the ward every day so she could feed him and make sure he was eating and gaining weight.

Her husband had cardiac arrest and was admitted to ICU. She is his full-time carer and worries about leaving him on his own because of his memory.

• 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 61-70 >> Interview 08 >> He felt there was a lack of communication between ICU and ward staff but, once the nurses on the ward knew how ill his wife was, they gave her more su

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.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 11 >> Her husband had problems with his catheter and she felt that better communication would have helped avoid such a problem.

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 41-50 >> Interview 17 >> She felt more reassured when her husband was transferred to a specialist hospital, because he was still very weak, confused and needed a lot of care.

Her husband was admitted to ICU because of a brain aneurysm. She spent eight weeks visiting him in two different hospitals, sometimes staying overnight.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 23 >> His partner stayed on a ward for one night before moving to a private hospital, where he felt she would get more care and support.

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 61-70 >> Interview 37 >> After several bureaucratic problems, he was able to transfer his wife to a private hospital, where she would get the physiotherapy and psychological s

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 02 >> Her husband became so depressed, she was so concerned about him that she agreed to help take him home that evening.

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 61-70 >> Interview 08 >> He would have liked to be able to contact one specific person on the ward who would be able to help with any problems or concerns.

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.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 14 >> She felt that, although the nurses were very busy, they did the best they could and were very good.

She has cared for her husband full-time since he had a heart attack and life threatening infection that meant he had to have his leg amputated.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 20 >> Their relative had a lot of hallucinations while on the ward but became more aware as time went on.

In 2004 his wife and her mother spent six months in hospital and was admitted to ICU three times because of sepsis and heart problems.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 03 >> At first her son would often get angry and aggressive but, gradually, he became more aware and started talking and walking.

In 2004 her 17-year-old son was a passenger in a car that was involved in a serious accident. He spent 17 days in ICU.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 07 >> Although their son was very weak, one day, completely out of the blue, he got up and walked across the ward unaided.

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 51-60 >> Interview 20 >> Their relative had an infection and, when it spread, she needed to have more surgery and another leg amputation.

In 2004 his wife and her mother spent six months in hospital and was admitted to ICU three times because of sepsis and heart problems.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 33 >> Her husband was anxious about having surgery but they were both relieved and happy when doctors showed them his x-rays and told them he no longer need

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 30 & under >> Interview 06 >> His father was likely to stay in hospital for quite some time and would only be discharged after having a further bowel operation.

In May 2006 his father was admitted to ICU because of pneumonia and was still in hospital at the time of interview.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 31 >> His wife needed a lot of support and, in the rehabilitation unit, nurses had time to spend with her and physiotherapists helped her become mobile agai

He cares full-time for his wife, who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 1998. She has been admitted to ICU several times and recently had a stroke.