Critical Care patients

Being a patient in critical care is very different to being on a ward. Most of the time the patient is asleep and cannot see who is visiting them.

We keep a diary for patients on critical care which can help them understand what has happened and who came to visit. Families are asked to contribute to this diary.

What happens in critical care?

Each morning every patient is seen by a Consultant in charge of each unit. These are doctors who are specialist in critical care medicine and have overall responsibility for you whilst on critical care.

During the ward round patients will be seen, examined and their care reviewed. Decisions are then taken as to progress and what else we need to help recovery. For example, this may mean waking up the patient or deciding to keep them asleep for a further day.

During the day, patients are constantly under observation. When people are seriously ill they are allocated one nurse to care at all times – this is to ensure patient safety and so that we can quickly respond to patient need.

Patients admitted to Wards L2 and J81 are normally there as part of a planned admission and in these areas are allocated one nurse to two patients.

As well as monitoring patients’ vital signs, nurses will reposition patients and administer medication.  They will also have discussions with family members.  We see our nurses as patient advocates responsible for overall patient safety and care.

Patients are seen by other members of the team including physiotherapists who ensure a patient’s chest is clear and move limbs and joints to avoid stiffness and muscle wastage.

Recovery and follow up

Getting better

As you recover you will become more aware of your surroundings, this can be frightening and you may find that you are often confused about days and what has happened to you. This is all normal.

As you gain strength we will be moving you onto ward based care, this is normal and is part of your continuing recovery.

Families and visitors

Visiting times

We restrict the number of people who can visit at any one time – please check with the ward to find out the specific visiting times as these can change.

Families

Access to the Critical Care unit is restricted; you will need to use an intercom to talk to our team. Please tell them who you wish to visit and your relationship to that person.

We will ask you to take a seat in the visiting areas and a member of staff will come and see you before you come to bedside.

On your first visit we will talk you through what to expect before we take you to see your loved one. We will talk to you at all times, letting you know what is happening.

We like to get to know you and the wider family so all can contribute to getting your loved one well again. We do keep a diary for each patient so that they can understand what has happened to them whilst they have been in critical care and we ask that visitors contribute to this diary too.

Rest for patients is vital to recovery and at times you may be asked not to visit or to leave for a period of time.

Meet the Team

Each critical care unit has a large number of staff working as one big team. As well as the consultants, doctors and nursing staff these include: physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, housekeepers and many more.

Research

We are active in promoting research and your relative may be asked for permission to enrol you in a clinical trial.

All research requires consent and this and the reasons and methods of the research will be fully explained to you.

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