Help, advice and support for patients and families in Critical Care in Belfast
Information for Families
Being a critical care patient is often a confusing and frightening experience for patients and families. We hope that the information here will help support and prepare you and your family.
Your relative or friend may be admitted to critical care because their body cannot work normally. If they do not get special help, they may have serious long-term effects to their health or they may die.
Sometimes patients may have to be moved to an ICU at a different hospital. This could be because the patient needs specialist care that is not available locally, beds are needed for new patients who are more seriously ill or because there aren’t enough beds. This can be very upsetting for you and you may have to travel further to visit, however, patients are only moved to a different hospital when it is absolutely necessary.