Rehabilitation after critical illness: could a ward-based generic rehabilitation assistant promote recovery?

Aim: The aim of this paper is to explore issues surrounding the implementation of a generic rehabilitation assistant (GRA) to provide ward-based rehabilitation after critical illness.

Background: Following critical illness a range of both physical and psychological problems can occur that include muscle wasting and weakness, fatigue, reduced appetite, post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression. Limited research exists evaluating the provision of rehabilitation to this patient group.