Implementation of preoperative visiting for critical care patients.

Preoperative visiting by a critical care pain nurse has improved patient care within the intensive care and high dependency units of Leicester General Hospital. A patient satisfaction audit showed that 98 per cent of the 50 patients questioned appreciated the visits and 94 per cent were satisfied with the pain relief they received. The service was reviewed in light of the survey results and then re-evaluated three years later as part of the ongoing audit cycle. Results of patient satisfaction were found to be similar and the need to provide better access to the service was highlighted.