Critical Care Outreach

Critical Care Outreach is part of a new approach to the management of all critically ill patients, no matter where they are within our hospital. Previously, care for critically ill patients was provided in discrete departments, separate from other clinical areas.

Critical Care Outreach teams were created following the introduction of the 'Comprehensive Critical Care' document (May 2000). This identified three main aims for outreach services:

• To avert admissions (or to ensure that admissions are timely) by identifying patients who are deteriorating
• To enable CCC discharges
• To share critical care skills

What do the Critical Care Outreach teams do?

• Support and advise ward staff in the management of acutely ill patients on the general wards
• Liaise with the CCC regarding potential admissions
• Ensure safe transfer of critically ill patients within the hospital
• Education and training in Critical Care skills including bedside teaching and mentoring / coaching
• Provide a follow-up service for CCC patients after discharge

Critical care follow-up clinic and rehabilitation

The UK Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC) identified that there is often little or no support for CCC patients after they’re discharged. The support needed can be either physical or psychological to ease the strain on their relationships with family and friends.

We have developed a follow-up service for CCC patients after they’re discharged. The patients are seen at 2 months, 6 months and 12 months after their discharge to monitor their progress.

The follow-up clinic has been nationally recognised and has already shown benefits for our patients.

The service at Hinchingbrooke Hospital is run 7 days a week (including bank holidays), from 8am to 8pm.