Anaesthetists Handbook - MEDICAL EDUCATION at University ...

PACUThe surgical team responsible for the patient is responsible forensuring that an extended recovery bed is booked. The anaesthetistmay also book extended recovery beds.Bed availability in extended recovery must be confirmed beforesending for a case.Patients will be accepted in order of priority; this priority will bedetermined by the consultant anaesthetist responsible for PACU forthat day in close liaison with the prospective admitting consultantsurgeons.The patient’s ward bed must be kept available throughout their stayfor their discharge from extended recovery.EmergencyThe referring consultant should discuss any potential admissions withthe duty PACU consultant anaesthetist. When UHCW critical carecapacity has been exhausted, emergency admissions to extendedrecovery will usually take priority over elective cases.The ultimate decision to admit or not lies with the duty PACUconsultant anaesthetist.PACU discharge policyPatients may be discharged to wards or to the critical care unit.The standard will be practitioner-led discharge.All transfers to a critical care unit occur on a consultant-to-consultantbasis.Patients leaving OIR will be transferred to the receiving ward orcritical care unit when the receiving area is ready to receive, and willnot usually be transferred between midnight and 08:00.A ward bed must be reserved for OIR patients in advance of theiradmission. For emergency cases a ward bed must be reserved assoon as possible. In case of any difficulty, the bed manager will findAnaesthetists Handbook January 2010 53