We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Privacy Policy

OK


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.

 

You have 137 results.

Apply a filter below to refine your search results.

Document: Intensive Care - A guide for patients and families

This is a booklet written by ICUSteps, which is a charity developed by former Intensive Care patients, family members and healthcare staff. It was written by patients and families for patients and families and is very easy to read.

Web Link: Intensive care - www.nhs.uk website

Intensive care units (ICUs) are specialist hospital wards that provide treatment and monitoring for people who are very ill. They're staffed with specially trained healthcare professionals and contain sophisticated monitoring equipment. Follow this link to get more information from the www.nhs.uk website.

Web Link: Intensive Care society: A guide to ICU monitoring and equipment

Intensive Care Equipment - A simple Guide We use a lot of medical equipment in intensive care units to help care for our patients. Here are some simple definitions to help how you understand some of the things we use.

Web Link: Intensive Care: ICU Steps guide for patients and relatives

This is a trusted website that provides a useful guide for families and patients on the ICU

Web Link: Intensive Care-what it is and does

This link will take you to the NHS Choices website, and their pages on Intensive Care.There is some easily understandable information on what Intensive Care is all about, and what to expect in terms of visiting, treatment and recovery.

Article: Keeping up to date

Who can I ask about my loved one's condition? The nurse who is looking after your family member will have a very clear understanding of your loved one's condition. She/he will be able to explain things to you in easily understandable language and will be happy to answer any questions you might have. We do understand that visiting a loved one in Intensive Care can be very upsetting and that it can sometimes be difficult to remember what you've been told.Please...

Article: Lane Fox Unit (LFU) - St Thomas's Hospital

Lane Fox Unit (LFU) is located on the ground floor in the South Wing of St Thomas's Hospital. Patients with long-term respiratory failure who need support from a ventilator (breathing machine) are cared for on the LFU. It is one of the largest services in the UK for home ventilation and weaning people from mechanical ventilation. The Lane Fox Unit provides the following services: assessing and treating people with respiratory failure, including home non-invasive ventilation a...

Web Link: Life Lines - virtual visiting: free download of app aTouchaway for Android and iPhone

We recognise the importance of loved ones and patients having communication. This Trust is set up for Virtual Visiting. On this weblink, please scroll down to 'Other ways to keep in touch' and click on 'virtual visiting'. If you have a smart phone or tablet please download the free aTouchAway™ app and register an account. Once you have a registered account on aTouchAway™ you need to: Contact the ward and provide them the email address used to set up the...

Article: Looking after yourself

Having a loved one in Intensive Care can be emotionally and physically exhausting. It can be all too easy to forget to take care of yourself. Try to remember, though, that you will need all your strength to help look after your loved one when he/she gets out of hospital. Try to keep to as normal a routine as you can It's completely understandable to feel that you want to "be there", to stay as close to your loved one as possible, either at their bedside, in the...

Web Link: Managing someone else's affairs (Citizens Advice)

When someone is ill in Intensive Care, they may need someone to help with or take over their affairs, including making decisions around their health, legal and financial welfare.This link will take you to the Citizens Advice website. It provides simple, easily understandable information about different ways of managing someone else's affairs, including different types of Power of Attorney.