Reforming Emergency Care: Critical care

A major modernisation programme for critical care services is currently underway with the aim of providing an integrated service for critically ill patients wherever they are in the health system. The changes are set out in Comprehensive Critical Care - A Review of Adult Critical Care Services (published 23 May 2000).

Key objectives: To increase capacity
To develop critical care services supporting critically ill patients throughout the hospital - not necessarily restricted to traditional critical care 'units'.
To provide an integrated critical care organisation within and between hospitals working in collaborative critical care networks.
To develop a culture of information gathering to provide robust, comprehensive information and data to support critical care delivery.
Clinical indicators for critical care outreach services
This report describes the role of critical care outreach services in supporting patient care and provides indicators of effectivess for outreach services. Supports the forthcoming clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on the care of the acutely ill patient in hospital.

Clinical indicators for critical care outreach services
The national education and competence framework for advanced critical care practitioners
Published: 8 April 2008
This document describes:
the role of an Advanced Critical Care Practitioner
how the role should function within the critical care team
the benefits of introducing the role in clinical practice
a national framework of education and competence for the role within recognised standards of practice

The national education and competence framework for advanced critical care practitioners