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Background Critical care survivors face physical, psychological and socio-economic burdens. Peer support is acknowledged as a way individuals can face, accept and overcome the challenges arising from a stressful event. We sought to examine the provision and benefits of peer support to critical care survivors in the UK. Method We distributed a survey, devised by the patients and relatives committee of the Intensive Care Society and ICUsteps, to contacts in 163 UK Trusts/hospitals with critical care departments. The benefit to individuals was assessed by seeking the views of attendees of two support groups. Results A response was received from 91 (56%) of the critical care departments. Of these, 46 (48% of respondents) have patient support groups. Our analysis of comments from 30 people is that support groups greatly benefit service users and staff. Conclusions Attendees of patient support groups gave highly positive comments about the service yet provision of patient support groups in the UK is not universal. Recommendations We make a series of recommendations for consideration by UK health care providers.

Payment by Results (PbR) is a system of paying for health care. It is linked to activity and adjusted for case-mix. This article explores the background to PbR for critical care, explains some of the terminology and looks at the implications of its planned introduction in 2011/12.