Quantifying physical rehabilitation demand as a foundational piece to modelling physiotherapy workforce on UK ICUs

The Guideline for Provision of Intensive Care Services version 3 (GPICS3) emphasises the need for physiotherapy staffing models that reflect local service demands and minimum standards rather than specified ratios. Therefore, demand for each activity required to meet GPICS3 minimum standards must be quantified. Provision of physical rehabilitation is one such, but it is unknown what proportion of patients require it each day. Post-hoc analysis of mobility data from 960 patients across 84 UK ICUs was undertaken to calculate rehabilitation demand. It was 45.3% of patients but varied substantially by ICU speciality. National staff-to-bed ratios therefore risk inaccurately quantifying staffing requirements to meet minimum standards.