How We Humanised the Critical Care Experience at Gateshead

The challenge behind humanising the critical care experience

This project shows how humanising the critical care experience can reduce anxiety, build understanding and support families at one of the most stressful moments of their lives. Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust wanted to ease concerns, answer questions and help people feel more confident navigating the critical care journey.

Anxieties, stress and confusion are common when relations, visitors and patients utilise Critical Care wards. Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust wanted to provide a way to reduce those anxieties and increase understanding around the critical care journey. To alleviate concerns and answer frequently asked questions during such a difficult time for patients’ relatives and visitors.

The impact of humanising the critical care experience

Using the insight gained, we co-created a visual narrative of the critical care journey. Drawing it to life via Graphic Scribe illustration, ensuring that all the necessary information was portrayed, whilst keeping the content easy to digest.

The Mural is displayed in the critical care ward at Queen Elizabeth Hospital to aid in answering the common questions, including practical information about facilities, an overview of the pieces of medical equipment used on the ward and what patients and relatives can expect after leaving critical care.

To explore more, you can read our related articles on behavioural insight, co-creation in public services and health communication design, along with NHS guidance on critical care for wider context.