An initiative in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI) has been piloting a recovery programme for patients who have been cared for in ICU.
ICU patients can have persistent physical and psychological problems as a direct result of the intensive care stay which can impact all aspects of their life. The InSPIRE (Intensive Care Recovery: Supporting and Promoting Independence and Return to Employment) project is a five week rehabilitation and support initiative for ICU patients and their families.
The joint initiative between NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) and the University of Glasgow has been chosen to be part of the Shine programme from the independent health care charity the Health Foundation and has been chosen for a national award for its work with ICU patients.
Through Shine, the Health Foundation is supporting 23 teams with outstanding, innovative ideas that aim to tackle the current challenges within the health service of which the InSPIRE initiative is one.
The joint initiative is led by a team from GRI ICU with support from the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland and over the course of the next year the project team will be developing and testing their innovation, putting it into practice, and gathering evidence about its impact and effectiveness.
Dr Tara Quasim, ICU Consultant, GRI said: ‘We are delighted to be supported by the Health Foundation.
“This innovative project we hope will change many people’s lives who have been cared for in ICU. ICU survivors can have persistent physical and psychological problems as a direct result of their intensive care stay, which can have an impact all aspects of their life.
“We hope that this innovative programme will navigate patients in their recovery, by giving both patients and family members access to appropriate services and support.”
Professor John Kinsella, University of Glasgow, added: “It is clear that intensive care has made tremendous progress in the last 20 years.
“Many more people are now surviving due to research and better care. This is very welcome but the survivors of prolonged critical illness face many challenges in the weeks and months after discharge home. All the progress in improving survival is only worthwhile if we do everything possible to improve the health and wellbeing of the intensive care survivors, allowing them to return to a full role in society.
“Every patient faces different challenges. This program facilitates the patient getting the support that they actually need.
“The success of modern medicine should be measured in terms of how the needs of every individual patients are met. The InSPIRE program puts the patient first.”