A day on the Intensive Care Unit

The day is planned as much as possible around the individual needs of your relative or friend.

This is a basic structure of the day:

  • 7:00–8am: Nursing and medical staff hand over from the night shift to the day shift. In this time the Intensive Care team meets to review each patient’s condition and decide any changes in treatment.
  • 8–10:30am: Drips and tubes are changed to reduce infection risks. Physiotherapists will treat patients at this time.
  • 10:30am–1pm: Patients have washes and may get out of bed.
  • 12–1pm: There may be a staff changeover when the morning shift hands over to the afternoon shift.
  • 7–7:30pm: Night nursing shift starts work.

During these hours patient may also go to and return from theatre or other department for investigations, we may take admissions of critically ill patients and from HDU and CCU, recovering or improving patients may be discharged to the wards.


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“For many wearing pyjamas reinforces feeling unwell and can prevent a speedy recovery. One of the most valuable resources is a patients’ time and getting people up and dressed is a vital step in ensuring that they do not spend any longer than is clinically necessary in hospital.” Professor Jane Cummings, Chief Nursing Officer for England