Trafford General Hospital has provided care for critically-ill patients in its purpose-built Critical Care Unit since 1984. (Critical care includes intensive care and high-dependency care.) With over 25 years' experience of providing this service, patients can be assured of receiving safe, high quality patient-focused care, provided by a dedicated team of experienced personnel with highly specialised skills. Patient care is augmented by the use of appropriate equipment based on the latest technology, with the support of a technician 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Currently, the Critical Care Unit can accommodate a maximum of 8 patients. The number of patients who receive treatment in Trafford's Critical Care Unit currently averages around 350 per year. As well as providing critical care for the local population, Trafford's Critical Care Unit would play an important role in the event of a major incident or pandemic.
Patients may be admitted to the Critical Care Unit due to any number of reasons, the commonest of which include:
The majority of patients are admitted to critical care for specialist interventions such as:
In the event that a patient requires more specialist intervention (such as cardiothoracic or neurological surgery) a trained team will ensure a prompt and safe patient transfer. This is carried out using our approved purpose-built mobile 'critical care trolley'.
The critical care team is led by the Clinical Lead for Critical Care, consultant Anaesthetist Dr John Barnes, in collaboration with the Directorate Matron, Trudi Eccleston. The nursing team consists of 28 registered general nurses, supported by healthcare support workers, clerical staff, domestic staff and a housekeeper. All registered nurses are encouraged, supported and expected to complete the Critical Care Nursing Course. This is a recognised qualification which provides critical care nursing staff with the knowledge and competency needed in order to achieve and maintain the highest standards of professional care. Training is provided by the North West Critical Care Institute, which is also based at Trafford General Hospital. Due to the dynamic nature of critical care and the need to constantly keep up to date with the latest techniques, staff education is paramount. Nursing staff may also choose to continue their education to postgraduate studies.
The nursing team is complemented by a team of physiotherapists, dieticians, speech and language therapists and pharmacists. The ability to provide this holistic, patient-centred approach ensures that the critically-ill patient and their loved ones will receive optimal care throughout their stay.
From their initial admission to critical care, every patient will have a designated nurse for day and night, seven days a week. The nurse-patient ratios are consistently high and this is determined by the patient's general condition and their amount of dependency. Each critical care nurse is responsible for a maximum of 2 patients at any given time. Unstable or highly-dependent patients receive 1:1 care around the clock.
We also provide a 'critical care outreach' service. This nursing-led role is multifaceted and in the first instance aims to provide support, guidance and advice for patients who may temporarily require critical care nursing within other departments in the hospital. Additionally, patients who have been discharged from the Critical Care Unit are regularly visited and assessed by the critical care outreach nurse until their discharge from hospital. The help, advice and emotional support provided for the patient and their loved ones also helps to promote a seamless transition of care and recovery throughout the patient's hospital stay.
Consultants:
Dr John Barnes (Clinical Lead)
Please add the other critical care consultants
Nursing staff:
Trudi Eccleston is Directorate Matron for Critical Care. The unit matrons are Elaine Deay, Karen Iddon and Andy O'Malley.
