Intensive Care Unit

Intensive Care Units cater to patients with the most severe and life-threatening illnesses and injuries; that require constant, close monitoring and support from specialist equipment and medication in order to maintain normal bodily functions. They are staffed by highly trained doctors and critical care nurses who specialise in caring for seriously ill patients.

Common conditions that are treated within ICU's include those such as trauma, multiple organ failure and sepsis. Patients may be transferred directly to an Intensive Care Unit from an emergency department if required, or from a ward if they rapidly deteriorate; or immediately after surgery if the surgery is majorly invasive and the patient is at high risk of complications.