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Critical Care Unit

Critical care

Patient Information Leaflet

Matron: Nicola Thompson

Lead Nurse: 24/7 cover

What is Critical Care?

Critical Care is a specialist area of the hospital where patients receive additional monitoring and support when they need closer attention.

In Critical Care, a highly trained team look after patients around the clock. They use monitoring equipment to keep a close eye on things like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, so they can respond quickly if anything changes. These monitors can be noisy and alarm, these alarms are to alert the staff. Although we know they can be annoying they are vital for your safety and care. If noise and light is affecting your sleep/rest, please ask a member of staff for a sleep pack (eye mask and earbuds).

Why may you be admitted?

Patients may get admitted to critical care to support:

Levels of care:

In hospital we use levels of care to make sure patients have the right care at the right time.

Level 3: Highest level of monitoring and support

This involves continuous 24/7 monitoring. Advanced support for breathing or kidneys. ONE nurse to ONE patient.

Level 2: Close monitoring

This is for those who need more frequent monitoring. May need more support for breathing, blood pressure or other medications. ONE nurse to TWO patients.

Level 1: Extra observation

Those who are at risk of deterioration or who have recently stepped down from a higher level of care. Need frequent observations. Care can be delivered on a ward set-up for level 1 care.

Level 0: Normal ward care

Needs can be met by normal ward care. No additional monitoring or organ support is required.

Layout of the unit:

Here on Critical Care, we have three areas,

Area A: 9 beds – two of which are side rooms

Area B: 6 beds

Area C: 8 beds – four of which are side rooms

Side rooms are for patients who have an infection or who are at high risk of catching an infection. We understand this can be isolating but it is for the safety of patients, yourself, staff and visitors.

There are televisions in Area B and in all rooms of Area C. There are patient toilets in Areas B and C only.

Our staff work across all three areas of the unit. You may be moved from one area to another depending on your care needs.

Who will look after you?

We have a multitude of staff who may see you. These people include (to name a few):

We also use other teams of specialists when necessary.

Staff should introduce themselves and be identifiable through visible name badges. If you are unsure who someone is, please ask them.

Ward round happens every day and we have two ward rounds a day, AM and PM.

Information about visiting?

Visiting is 11-8, to allow time for personal care, you to eat if able, the doctors to do their ward round and allow staff to complete medication rounds with minimal distractions to reduce error.

Visitors are asked to leave by 8pm to allow you time to rest and as this is vital to your progression and recovery. Between 1900-1930 when nurses are handing over, we ask relatives to leave the clinical area to maintain confidentiality for other patients.

Visiting can be flexible on an individual need/circumstance and should be discussed with the nurse in charge/lead nurse on duty.

Nutrition:

When you are unwell, your body needs extra energy and protein to recover, fight infection, and keep muscles working and you may experience taste changes.

We understand that it can be difficult to eat at times when you are not well, but good nutrition is important in Critical Care to help your body heal and regain strength.

If you are unable to eat well on your own, we may insert a tube called a nasogastric tube (NG) down your nose to your stomach where we can give you liquid food. You may not be able to eat normally after some surgeries, but we will keep you informed of your nutritional plan.

This is done to help you:

If you are struggling with nutrition, please speak to a member of staff for alternative menu options.

Stepping down from Critical Care:

As you get to a level 0 (or level 1 in some cases) you will be deemed ‘wardable’ it is at this stage that we start looking for a ward bed for you. Due to hospital demands this may not happen on the same day.

You will be told which ward you are going to, and a comprehensive handover will be given to the ward staff.

You may be visited on the ward by our Critical Care Outreach Team (CCOT). One of these nurses will review your progress on the ward. When they feel you are no longer in need of these reviews they will discharge you from their list. This does not mean they will never see you again.

Ward staff and doctors can re-refer you to them and they will come and see you again if medically required. You may also be visited by the Critical Care Rehab Team if your level of care and complex needs fulfil their criteria for ongoing support.

What you should do if you have a comment, concern or complaint:

We always welcome feedback. When you leave Critical Care, we ask that you and/or a relative complete our ‘Friends and Family Test’ (FFT). It is a short survey that allows you to make honest comments about the care you received on Critical Care and what could make it better.

If you have a concern or complaint, please speak to the nurse in charge, if they are unavailable, unable to assist or you are unsatisfied with the response please ask to speak to the lead nurse on duty.

Alternatively, you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). They can:

Please ask a member of staff for a PALS information booklet if required.

PALS contact details: Freephone: 0800 073 0510 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) Email: dgft.pals@nhs.net

Marthas Rule

We want patients and families to feel heard and supported. Martha’s Rule gives you an extra way to ask for help if you are worried that your/your relatives condition is getting worse and feel your concerns have not been fully addressed.

If you are worried:

This is not a complaint service; it is for you to be able to express your concerns about your/your relatives health and get reviewed by another senior healthcare professional. Please bear in mind, CCOT may be busy at the time of call, leave a message and they will get back to you ASAP.

Support and information:

Critical Care Recovery Service

Home – ICUsteps

Intensive Care Society | About ICU

Intensive care – NHS

Our values and commitments | ICNARC

For patients | The Royal College of Anaesthetists

What is PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service)? – NHS

Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK Effective Peer Support | Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK

Home – The UK Sepsis Trust

Headway – the brain injury association | Headway

We are the expert, guiding voice for life after spinal cord injury – SIA

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand, please contact the Russells Hall Hospital switchboard number on 01384 456111 and ask for the relevant department who issued this leaflet.

If you have any feedback on this patient information leaflet please email dgft.patient.information@nhs.net

This leaflet can be made available in large print, audio version and in other languages, please call 0800 073 0510.

Originator: Natasha Bird. Date originated March 2026. Review date: June 2029. Version: 1. DGH ref: DGH/PIL/02180