Our critical care team have launched a new outreach service, offering support for our deteriorating acutely unwell adult patients.

The critical care outreach team (CCOT) has been introduced to ensure acutely ill adult patients on our wards receive the care they need in a timely manner, supported by staff trained to manage such patients.

The key aims of the team are:

  • Timely clinical response for patients and clinical teams needing input from critical care
  • Streamline and simplify the pathway for all adult critical care referrals
  • Develop systems to assist in the early recognition and effective local response to deteriorating adult ward patients
  • Share critical care expertise and knowledge
  • Empower ward staff to manage the deteriorating adult.

CCOT will comprise of a dedicated critical care consultant during the day (initially from Monday-Friday), a registrar during the day (Monday-Sunday) and a minimum of one critical care nurse at all times of the day, seven days a week.

The team will receive all unplanned referrals for any adult critical care unit, including for patients that have undergone emergency surgery/intervention.

Dr Mo Ahmed, Lead Consultant for Critical Care Outreach, and Susan Reynolds, Matron for Critical Care Outreach, said: “After a year of development, we are delighted to launch the critical care outreach service at St George’s.

“Improving care for deteriorating patients is one of the Trust’s clinical priorities, so it’s great news that we can now start to share our critical care expertise for the benefit of adult patients on our wards.

“The service will take time to grow and adapt to the needs of staff, but we’re looking forward to expanding the team over the coming months.”