CSP backs ‘Rehab Is Critical’ campaign

The #RehabIsCritical campaign by charity ICUsteps demands the government take immediate action to ensure comprehensive community rehabilitation for all discharged critical care patients is prioritise, funded and commissioned.

The campaign launched with a parliamentary petition demanding health secretary Matt Hancock takes immediate action to ensure patients are not left to try to recover alone, which can cause unnecessary distress as well as slowing down their recovery.  

Sara Hazzard, assistant director of strategic communications at the CSP, said: ‘It is a tragedy that many patients receive little or no support after discharge from hospital.

'Patients are hidden out of sight at a time when help is needed most. We must address this urgently.

It is vital that support for people who’ve experienced critical illness is the same across the UK. Without it we will continue to see patients struggle through recovery, facing hospital readmissions, more severe disability or not being able to return to work.

The campaign draws attention to the fact the National Institute for Health and Social Care guidelines on improving improve physical, psychological and cognitive outcomes in people who have been discharged from critical care are not being followed consistently.

Members can sign the petition  or share on social media using the hashtag #RehabIsCritical

Support for this campaign is part of the wider work the CSP is doing to influence decision-makers both nationally and locally for rehabilitation to be needs-led, person-centred, funded across the whole pathway and universally available.