Table 2.

Causes of distress after transfer from the ICU to the general ward

Causes of distress		Respondents' attribution of the cause of their distress
Instances of poor basic care	Instances where ward environment and organization inappropriate for recent ICU patients	Lack of resources in NHS	Lack of training	Inadequate handover from ICU
Left in chair by bed for 12 hours newly on ward Being left on commode on ward with diarrhoea and vomiting Being given food and buzzer when too weak to use arms Not being given pain relief when required Feeling 'smelly' after 2 days on ward with no washing Being bathed in tepid water and left undried Buzzer left answered for 'what seemed like hours' No help offered when profuse sweating started No action taken when he went from being extremely hot to cold and shivering Water in jug by bedside but not poured into glass; patients arms too weak to manage	No fan available on ward No electric bed as promised; uncomfortable bed Wrong diet for 2 days Not being able to see doctor Being dressed in pyjamas that were too tight and gave discomfort Having to use commode when he had diarrhoea and sickness Lack of privacy from disinhibited patients Sleep deprivation due to visitors/TVs/arguments Taken to side room, which felt like being 'locked away in a cupboard' Disabled patient required electric bed but not available Contracted methicillin-resistant Straphylococcus aureus in general ward Checking up on feeding and nutrition left to carer/visitors	Inedible food Too few nurses to help with basic care Nurses too rushed to talk to them and find out what kind of help they needed Not enough of the right kind of bed available in hospital Electric bed available but not procured quickly enough No physiotherapy as promised Not enough fans available in hospital Windows jammed shut when fresh air required; no repair/maintenance available	Nurses didn't understand English so communication broke down No apology made after jug of cold water spilt over her Nurses not seeming confident about tracheostomy Nurses struggling to operate suction 'vac' Staff being loud during night time and disturbing sleep No explanations or apologies given about why equipment not available	Nurses not understanding their physical limitations, particularly the need for help with toileting Not understanding that rough handling could cause pain, for instance when hoisting from bed to chair Limited understanding of their fear at being left alone, especially at night Not realizing the importance of getting a special diet

ICU, intensive care unit; NHS, National Health Service.