Staff in our ICU work as a team to care for patients. It is likely that you will meet many of the staff who look after your relative as the days go by.
Doctors
The most senior doctors in our ICU are the Consultant Intensivists specialised in critical care medicine. Our Intensive Care Unit is run by the Consultant Intensivists with other specialist doctors visiting the ICU to advise on particular aspects of patient care, as required.
Consultants are assisted by other doctors who are at various stages of their training and specialist careers.
A doctor will always be available to ensure that any change in a patient's condition is treated appropriately.
Nurses
The senior nurse who co-ordinates the care in an ICU is called a Sister if female, or a Charge Nurse if male. The nurses who look after individual patients' needs are called Staff Nurses. Sometimes there may be Student Nurses on the unit who work under close supervision.
The Ward Clerk is often the first point of contact when you visit the ICU who will show you where our Relatives Room and facilities are located.
Physiotherapists
A team of physiotherapists work on ITU every day where they have three main areas of expertise.
Chest clearance
Patients on a ventilator are at risk from chest infections as they are less able to clear secretions from their lungs. The physiotherapist will assess each patient’s chest daily and help them to clear secretions if necessary.
Weaning from the ventilator
The physiotherapist will assist with a weaning programme, aiming to strengthen the patient’s breathing muscles so that they gradually get strong enough to breathe for themselves.
Rehabilitation
Many patients who are unwell for more than a few days can become very weak. The physiotherapist will assist these patients with a programme of exercises to loosen up stiff joints and strengthen all their muscles. The patient will be assisted to sit out of bed, stand and even walk as soon as they are able. Your relative may require further rehabilitation and their needs and progress will be regularly reviewed as part of our specialised rehabilitation pathway.
