Critical Care
The University Hospital of North Staffordshire houses one of the few trauma centres within the United Kingdom. A pivotal part of this service is Critical Care.
The Critical Care facilities at University Hospitalare split across the Royal Infirmary and City General Sites in order to provide the most appropriate care depending on the patient’s condition. The areas comprise the Multiple Injuries Unit, Intensive Care Unit and Surgical Special Care Unit. There are 27 critical care beds in total providing ventilatory and high dependency support for emergency and elective patien's.
The Critical Care areas have a dedicated Senior Clinical Nurse (matron) who is responsible for effective nursing care and infection control measures to provide the highest quality care in a safe clean environment.
Recently there has been a significant increase in the demand for critical care services at University Hospital and the Trust has expanded its facilities to include additional specialist beds for neurosurgery.
The Critical Care areas have approximately 170 nursing staff and dedicated Consultant Intensivists who provide high quality critical care for their patients. Many of the staff have undertaken post graduate critical care training and are supported by a Practice Development Sister who ensures all the staff are trained to the highest standard and provide evidence based care.
There is a dedicated Outreach Service at the Royal Infirmary site which facilitates the smooth transition from the critical care areas to the wards, providing follow up care and support. The Outreach Team provides specialist critical care knowledge to ward staff, and works in conjunction with the Intensivists to ensure admissions to the critical care units are as smooth as possible.
We offer open visiting within the critical care areas, however it is important for both patients and relatives to have the opportunity to rest. We therefore ask that you do not visit between the hours of 4pm and 7pm. We title this 'the rest period' and make sure that, where possible, procedures do not take place during this time.
Within the High Dependency Unit visiting times are 2pm-4pm and then again at 6pm-8pm. This is to allow adequate rest for the patients but also to aid the transition back to the ward areas.
If there is a problem with any of the visiting times or you need to stay with your relative, provision can be made for this on an individual basis through discussion with the nurse in charge.
When patients are first admitted to the critical care units there may be a long wait before you can see them as the nurses and doctors need to stabilise their condition and carry out any initial procedures that are required. We understand relatives will be anxious and waiting and will endeavour to be as quick as possible.
It is normal for relatives to feel anxious and helpless at this time. Please feel free to ask questions of the staff, they will be happy to explain what they are doing and will update you with your relative's progress.
All the critical care units have facilities for relatives to use.
We provide diaries for all our long stay patients and encourage relatives to make comments in them. The nurses, doctors and physiotherapists will do the same because these notes can be very helpful for the person who has been ill to understand what has happened to them while they have been in the critical care unit.
There may be times when you will be asked to leave the bedside. This is because of the nature of some of the necessary medical procedures but also out of dignity and respect for the patient. You will also be asked to leave at handover time for confidentiality reasons.
Patients who are critically ill often have difficulty fighting infections and this can be very serious. The staff will do all they can to ensure the patient is protected. You can help too by washing your hands and using the gels before and after contact with your relative. You should ask other visitors to do the same.
An information pack and booklet is available for patients and relatives on admission.