Nurses. Most patients have a dedicated bedside nurse for most of the time. The bedside nurse is your first point of contact and gives regular updates on daily care. Nursing assistants support the nurses under supervision. They wear green tops and help with basic care and checks.
Doctors. You may see several doctors. Critical Care doctors work as a team led by a consultant. The senior doctor (consultant) leads the care plan. The consultant on duty usually changes every three to four days. Doctors from other teams may also help, such as surgery, heart, or infection teams.
Other professionals you may meet. Physiotherapists help with breathing, movement, and recovery, and may ask you for details that support rehabilitation. Pharmacists check that medicines are safe and right for the patient. Psychologists and critical care patient and family support nurses support patients and families. Chaplains and spiritual care staff support people of any faith or none. The palliative care team help with symptom control and comfort. Dietitians advise on food and fluids. Speech and language therapists help with swallowing and communication. Reception staff can guide you and help you find where you need to go. Research staff may invite you to join a study, but they do not provide daily care. Cleaners and porters keep the unit safe, clean, and running well.
If you are unsure who someone is. Please ask us. All staff wear name badges, and we will explain our role.
Mornings are our busiest time. The team checks on all patients and makes plans for the day. The morning ward round usually finishes around midday.
In the afternoon, we do most tests, scans, and treatments, which might mean visiting is paused for a while. If you’ve travelled a long way, please let the bedside nurse know - we’ll do our best to plan around your visit.
The afternoon ward round is usually between 3 pm and 6 pm. This is often a good time to meet the doctors and ask for an update.
We want to keep you informed.
Different team members may speak with you about their part of your care. Consultants and unit doctors make treatment decisions and explain the overall plan. Your bedside nurse will give you regular updates.
If you’re not sure who to ask, please speak to the bedside nurse. Plans can change as new information comes in.
If you’d like to talk to a consultant, just let a member of staff know. Please never feel you’re bothering us - no question is too small. We’re always happy to explain anything you don’t understand.
When we use single rooms
Sometimes we care for a patient in a single room, also called a side room. This helps reduce the risk of infection spreading and gives extra privacy when needed.
Why do staff wear a protective kit
You may see staff wearing gloves, aprons or masks. This is to protect patients and staff and to stop germs spreading. We choose the right protective kit for the task and risk.
You may notice monitors, tubes, drips, and machines around your loved one. These help us give treatment and keep a close eye on their condition. They can look worrying at first, but each has a purpose. If you are unsure about any piece of equipment, please ask the bedside nurse, and we will explain it.
If you would like to learn more at your own pace, there is a clear interactive ICU bed space guide that shows a typical critical care bed space and explains the equipment.
ICUsteps is a UK charity created by people who have been in intensive care with support from staff. The website has guides on intensive care, recovery, and coping at home. You can read patient stories, download free booklets, and find local support groups.
- Non-invasive ventilation (NIV): A tight mask pushes air into the lungs to help breathing.
- Invasive ventilation (life support machine): A machine helps with or takes over breathing through a tube in the mouth or neck. Medicines help keep the person comfortable.
- Tracheostomy (neck breathing tube): A small opening in the neck into the windpipe. A tube in this opening helps breathing and can allow more wakefulness on a ventilator.
- Renal replacement therapy (kidney support or dialysis): A machine cleans the blood when the kidneys are not working well. It removes waste and extra fluid.
- Vasopressors (medicines for low blood pressure): Medicines that raise low blood pressure. The patient is closely monitored while receiving them.
- Enteral nutrition (tube feeding): Liquid food given through a soft tube into the stomach.
- Parenteral nutrition (feeding into a vein): Liquid food given directly into a vein.
- Physiotherapy (movement and breathing therapy): Exercises to improve strength and breathing, and to clear mucus from the lungs.
For more terms, see the ICUsteps glossary.
