A ground-breaking support service designed to help parents after their child is discharged from the Children’s Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, is being rolled out by the charity, Cosmic, following research that shows early intervention can help prevent Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other long-term mental health issues.
Cosmic supports the children’s intensive care units at St Mary’s and Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea hospitals, by helping critically ill babies and children, their families and the staff who work tirelessly to treat them. The charity also funds vital research and training for health professionals.
The new initiative is the first of its kind in the UK and responds to the critical gap in post-intensive care support for families.
“Surviving intensive care is a huge relief, but it can also mark the beginning of a complex emotional journey. Our new post-discharge support service is a proactive, compassionate response to the psychological impact parents often face,” said Professor Simon Nadel, Consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care at St Mary’s Hospital, part of West London Children’s Healthcare.
Each year, around 20,000 children are admitted to PICUs across the UK. While most children survive (more than 95% of patients are discharged), research, funded by Cosmic and Imperial College Healthcare Trust, shows children and their families are at significant risk of developing PTSD and other psychological conditions after discharge.
Untreated, PTSD can lead to chronic mental health problems and disrupt everyday life. Adults may experience long-term ill health, difficulty returning to work, and increased reliance on NHS and social services. In children, PTSD may contribute to long-term emotional and educational problems.
“Many families feel lost after leaving ICU, with little or no guidance on how to process what they’ve just been through,” said one parent. “We wish this support had been available to us when we left PICU – just knowing your feelings are normal would have made a huge difference.”
This innovative Cosmic support programme includes an expertly designed information booklet for parents, which highlights emotional responses that are commonly encountered and offers practical coping strategies. The programme also provides a follow-up phone call six weeks after hospital discharge, conducted by trained staff to assess the family’s wellbeing and provide ongoing referral for counselling where needed.
Following a successful pilot study, which showed significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in parents six months after discharge, this support programme is now up and running.
Susannah Forland, Chief Executive at Cosmic, said: “We are delighted to see this service rolled out to bridge the gap between hospital and home, providing a vital safety net during one of the most emotionally vulnerable times in a parent’s life.”
By tackling trauma early, Cosmic’s pioneering initiative not only supports individual families but also helps reduce the long-term public health and economic burden of untreated post-ICU psychological distress.
Find out more about Cosmic here: https://cosmiccharity.org.uk/
