Anaesthetists Handbook - MEDICAL EDUCATION at University ...

Integration with the critical care unitregister the patient’s name in the HDU and reserve a bed well inadvance.You must confirm ICU or HDU bed availability on the day ofoperation, before beginning the case.You must accompany your patient during transfer to the ICU or theHDU; you must inform the ICU resident that the patient has arrivedand give handover in person.TransfersCopies of the UHCW protocol for adult critical care transfers areavailable in theatres, Emergency Admissions Unit, EmergencyDepartment, ICU and the Anaesthesia Office. This outlines theprocess to be followed and describes the critical care network andUHCW's transfer group.Your responsibility as an anaesthetist is to continue withmanagement of the patient and ensure optimal fitness prior totransfer. Either the intensive care or the anaesthetics team willconduct transfers (see page 59). In practice, the decision will followdiscussion between the two groups and will depend on workload,grades of staff available and the stability of the patient beingtransferred.GeneralAnaesthetics trainees are welcome to discuss any problems directlywith any of the ICU consultants at any time. You are welcome toattend the training programme currently running on ICU. Check in theAnaesthesia Office for details.Ventilated patients outside ICUWhen critical care beds are full and a further patient needs criticalcare, the consultant intensivist will determine the appropriate care.This may involve transfer to another ICU in the transfer group. Atnight this may lead to ventilation of a patient in PACU, or the theatre.Anaesthetists Handbook January 2010 57