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Intensive Care

Critical care, also known as intensive care, is needed if someone is seriously ill with life-threatening conditions and requires intensive treatment and close monitoring. This is carried out in a ward called the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). These wards within the hospital are staffed with a multi-disciplinary healthcare team equipped and designed to closely monitor and treat patients with life-threatening conditions. Patients may need specialist treatment because one or more of their body systems, such as their heart, lung, or kidneys, are not working properly.

Because our patients are often very unwell, they will have much greater care needs than those patients being cared for on more general wards within the hospital. For this reason, each nurse will care for one patient only at a time and patients will be reviewed by different teams regularly.

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Article: Personal Care on ICU

Personal care is the word we use to cover all the intimate care the nurse gives, such as washing the patient, looking after their skin and mouth. Whilst patients are in ICU the nurse will give a bed bath or a complete wash in bed at least once a day or whenever else it is needed. The mouth is cleaned and moisturised every 2 to 3 hours with soft moist sponges. The nurse will pay special attention to the patient’s skin. The nurse will change the patient’s position in bed, every...

Article: Physiotherapy in Intensive Care

What do physiotherapists do in Intensive Care? Physiotherapy has a very important role in the care and treatment of patients in Intensive Care. There are two main things that the physiotherapist can help with; breathing and exercises. Help with breathing Many patients in Intensive Care need help with their breathing, even if they're not connected to a ventilator or breathing machine. Patients who are not connected to a ventilator or breathing machine may struggle to...

External Video: Post Intensive Care Syndrome Family

This video examples what the symptoms are of Post Intensive Care Syndrome Family. It is not uncommon for families to suffer from poor health themselves, as having a loved one in ICU is a stressful and very emotional experience. It explains why this happens and how to seek help

Article: Pressure relieving equipment

Pressure relieving equipment are several different devices such as special hospital bed mattresses, heel troughs, splints and pillows that are used as part of ICU treatment to reduce or relieve pressure ulcers.

Article: Putting lines in

What are "lines"? There are different kinds of "lines" with different uses. Some are used to give patients fluids and medications, most commonly in the small veins in the hand or arms (sometimes called a cannula).Some medication needs to be given via a large vein (where the richer blood supply dilutes it) in the neck or groin (sometimes called a central line). These types of lines are also used to give liquid nutrition (TPN or Total Parenteral Nutrition). Other...

Web Link: Rehabilitation in Intensive Care

This link takes you to people talking about their experiences of having physical rehabilitation (help to move again) whilst in Intensive Care

Web Link: Religious Services at Guys and St Thomas'

We provide religious services for many denominations and beliefs. More details are provided on the GSTT website

Article: Sedation (drugs to keep patients comfortable)

What is sedation? Sedatives are the drugs we give patients to keep them sleepy and comfortable whilst in Intensive Care.They are usually given into a line or drip, directly into the patient's bloodstream. Why are sedatives used in Intensive Care? When a patient is very ill, the body may struggle to cope with the severity of their illness or with some of the things we have to do in order to treat their illness. Being connected to a ventilator or breathing machine via a...

Web Link: Sepsis Trust

Sepsis is a very severe form of infection.This link will take you to the UK Sepsis Trust. The website provides patients and families with easily understandable information on what sepsis is, the different types, the symptoms, treatements and potential long-term effects.There are personal stories from patients who have survived sepsis and from their family members. They offer an "In Touch" service, which is access to one-to-one support via email or telephone. There is also a...

Article: Sleep in ICU

Sleep disruption on the ICU Critically ill patients often do not sleep well. Sleep is often broken and disturbed with the usual pattern of sleeping during the night and not in the day affected. There are several reasons for poor sleep on the ICU and these include: Drugs given for pain and sedation Anaesthesia and surgery Environmental factors (ie. noise, lighting, alarms, other patients, round the clock care) Mechanical ventilation (breathing machine) Sepsis (infection) Fear...

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Intensive Care

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