2. Method

Hospital participation

The study aimed to include general ICUs in all hospitals in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and the Defence Secondary Care Agency and those hospitals in the independent sector that participate in the work of NCEPOD. All primary care trusts, community hospitals and specialist centres were excluded from the study.

For each participating hospital, an organisational questionnaire relating to the ICU and provision of outreach services was sent to the hospital’s medical director for completion.

Copies of all three questionnaires can be found in Appendix 3.