Patients joined staff to take part in a new, virtual, weekly forum set up by Walsall Healthcare’s Critical Care Rehabilitation Team to continue offering support to those who have had a hospital stay in critical care.

The team supports long term patients on their recovery journey using a host of approaches to cover both physical and psychological support. Over the last 12 months more than 250 patients have used the service.

And last week saw the first forum for patients and staff alike to share their experiences – these weekly sessions will also help enhance practice at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust

Xana Marriott, Senior Sister for Critical Care Rehabilitation, said: “We are so pleased to have set up this virtual forum, holding our first meeting last Tuesday.

“It was a really emotional session, we laughed and cried together, but it was really beneficial to both staff and patients. Some of the patients involved are covid-19 survivors, but all have the same thing in common in that they’ve had a stay in our Critical Care Unit.”

Xana explained that a period in critical care affects different patients in different ways but the weeks and months of rehabilitation that follow are a team effort that involves, patients, their families or friends and a whole range of healthcare professionals all working together to achieve the best possible outcomes after a significant event.

She said: “It is so rewarding to be involved in patients’ rehabilitation and we love seeing the progress they have made. The forum was set up so that our patients could talk to others in similar circumstances and for their families to also share experiences but, just as importantly, it gives our team an opportunity to find out what has worked well and areas that we need to focus on. It will help us enhance our practice and provide a service that is truly shaped by patients.”

The forum will meet every Tuesday.

Carol Holland, whose husband Keith is a Covid-19 survivor, said: “It was very mixed emotions but much appreciated. It was also nice to see people I’d spoken with but didn’t get the opportunity to meet and thank personally.”

Any former Critical Care Unit patients or families who want to join the forum are invited to email xana.marriott@walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk