Having a family member or friend in an intensive care unit (ICU) is a stressful and emotional experience for many people.

Your loved family member or friend is receiving intensive care in hospital because their body is not working as it should. This may be because of an illness, an injury, or because they are recovering from a major operation. As their body needs time to rest and recover from being so ill, they may be given strong pain-killing drugs or sedatives to help the healing process begin.

Unfortunately, not all ICU patients recover fully from their critical injury or illness. Some may unable to return to the life they led before their injury or illness and some may die. If your loved one is not getting better, our ICU staff will help you develop a plan that is right for your loved one.

South Metropolitan Health Service (external site) offers intensive care at both Fiona Stanley Hospital and Rockingham General Hospital (external site). The following information has been developed to help you understand the ICU journey at these hospitals and what help is available to you.