Patients leaving intensive care will be offered a new support scheme under a project being pioneered by the Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust.

Call 4 Concern is a 24/7 support and advice line available to patients and their families.

Patients and their relatives receive written and verbal information on the C4C scheme prior to leaving ICU. The pack includes an information pamphlet, a PatientLine credit card and a feedback form.

The project is based on a US scheme initiated by the Josie King Foundation.

Once a call has been made, a critical care outreach nurse visits the patient in the ward to discuss any concerns raised and assess the situation. The nurse then liaises with the nursing and medical teams and other appropriate healthcare professionals.

Nurse consultant in critical care Mandy Odell said: “The project provides patients and their families the ability to call the critical care outreach team directly for support and advice.

“A C4C can be made directly to the critical care outreach team by a patient, a member of their family or a friend if they have concerns about what is happening to the patient.”

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