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Formerly St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Our Services A - Z - Ward 4E - Critical Care Unit

About the service

Ward 4E - Critical Care Unit (ICU)

The Critical Care Unit (ICU) is located on Level 4, Whiston Hospital

Intensive Care Units (ICU), also called the Critical Care Department, look after patients whose conditions are life-threatening and need constant, close monitoring and support from equipment and medication to keep normal body functions going. Intensive care units in the United Kingdom are run and staffed by specialists trained in intensive care. They have higher levels of staffing, specialist monitoring and treatment equipment only available in these areas and the staff are highly trained in caring for the most severely ill patients. Senior staff are closely involved in the hour by hour management of patients by the bedside and all staff are especially trained to care for the most unwell patients.

Some patients are in an ICU for shorter periods of time than others, depending on the extent of their illness or injury. As patients get better, they are transferred to a general ward somewhere else in the hospital.

Once a patient is admitted to the unit, the intensive care team will manage the care of the patient in consultation with the original team that admitted the patient to the hospital and any other specialists that they think can help to aid the patient's recovery. The intensive care doctors and nurses will give the best overview and general update on the patient, but they may sometimes refer relatives to the specialist teams for discussion of certain aspects of care.

Once a patient has recovered and is well enough to be transferred to the ward, their care will be handed over to the ward team. Our outreach intensive care team may continue to visit patients on the ward and we also have an internationally recognised rehabilitation service for specific patients who have had long stays and been severely unwell.

Infection control is very important in intensive care as patients who are very unwell are very susceptible to infection, and staff and visitors are required to comply with local hygiene policies.

The above text has been adapted from the Intensive Care Society (UK) website, that has further information for patients and relatives.

Sue Frodsham - Lead Nurse, Manager, Critical Care Unit

Overall responsibility for operational, personnel and financial management of the Critical Care Unit.

 

 

Page last updated on 14th August 2024

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