NEW: @BorisJohnson
is sitting up in bed in ICU, per @RishiSunak BUT faces a long road to recovery, per @AlisonPittard Dean of Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine talking to @ft - me with @SebastianEPayne /1 thead https://www.ft.com/content/ac531ae5-c880-428b-b8a9-96122fdc68a4

So first thing to say is LOTS of uncertainty - some patients go to ICU #covid19 ward, come off ventilation and recover quite fast.

But top line, "full recovery" from ICU takes 12-18 months. Tho you go back to work long before then. /2

Asked if Johnson spent 7 days in intensive care, he could be back at work in 7 weeks - answer yes. Could it be earlier? Yes, too.

BUT there is a difference between back to work and full 'recovery' - like being able to full go back to your old work/exercise routine /3

There is also lots of uncertainty about #covid19 but as Dr Pittard explains, on average you get more complications (blood clots to lungs, kidney complications) that with regular 'flu/viral pneumonia. /4

But of course, SOME patients get to ICU, on 'four litres' of Oxygen and then make quite steady recovery...others go downhill very fast. It *looks* from what Chancellor said, that Johnson is in former category. Time will tell. /5

There are some other factors also - which are not always taken into account - such as the psychological issues associated with an intensive care experience. Some patients suffer a form of PTSD and need additional time to recover - separate from the physical issues. /6

Dr Pittard @AlisonPittard adds that it is a long road, however. Patients make fast initial recovery, but can then "plateau" after six months and suffer a "dip" as they struggle to get totally back to where they were before the episode. /7

Lastly does having a big, stressful job (like PM) make a difference? Not necessarily. For some people that job is their "comfort zone" 8/ENDS