Medical team 

The critical care medical team consists of intensive care consultants, specialist senior registrars and foundation year trainee doctors. The department has an excellent team ethos and holds daily multidisciplinary team meetings to enhance patient care. During the twice daily ward round the team will check each patient, make decisions on treatment, prescribe medicines and make a plan for care.

Nursing team

Our nurses are specifically trained in critical care, and are led by the critical care lead nurses. They monitor patients for changes in their condition, give medicines and specialist treatments and look after the patient’s personal needs. Bedside nurses care for a maximum of two patients and they are supported by healthcare assistants and a nurse-in-charge.

Ward assistants

Ward assistants work on the unit every day and help us to keep the environment clean and tidy. This helps to reduce the risk of infection for our patients.

Ward receptionist

We have a ward receptionist who answers the phone and the doorbell and keeps patient’s notes in order.

Nutritionists

The nutrition team are responsible for making sure that patients get the right nutrition during their stay. This often involves a liquid diet given through a feeding tube or drip.

Therapists

Physiotherapists give treatment to clear respiratory (airway) secretions, e.g. mucus. This can help the patient’s breathing and help to reduce the amount of breathing support given. They also help to improve the patient’s muscle strength through exercise and help them to set goals for rehabilitation.

Speech and language therapists assess patients who have problems speaking or swallowing, and help them to communicate more easily. They also advise on how to start eating and drinking safely.

Pharmacists

Pharmacists give advice on medicines. This may include making sure that patients are on the most appropriate medicine and dose, monitoring the effects of medicines and minimising any side effects. They also advise critical care staff on the safest way to give medicines.

Radiographers

Radiographers perform scans such as X-rays or ultrasounds on the unit. If patients need an MRI or CT scan, they are taken to the scanning department by a critical care doctor and nurse.

Research team

We have a very active research and clinical audit team. The clinical audit nurses and support staff monitor critical care activity and clinical performance. By participating in recognised national and international audit projects, they allow us to compare our performances with other critical care units. The clinical research nurses take part in research projects aimed at improving patient care for patients within our critical care units.

Outreach team

Our outreach team assists in the management of ill patients on the general wards and those discharged from critical care.