An Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a specially staffed and equipped, separate and self-contained area of a hospital dedicated to the management and monitoring of patients with lifethreatening conditions. It provides special expertise and the facilities for the support of vital functions and uses the skills of medical, nursing and other personnel experienced in the management of these problems. It encompasses all areas that provide Level 2 (high dependency) and/or Level 3 (intensive care) care as defined by the Intensive Care Society document Levels of Critical Care for Adult Patients (2009).
ICU staff also provide services outside of the ICU such as emergency response (e.g. rapid response teams) and critical care outreach services. Where applicable the hospital must provide adequate resources for these activities.
Depending upon the designated level, function, size and case mix of the hospital and/or region that it serves, an ICU may range from four to over 50 beds. Large ICUs should be divided into pods of 8-15 patients.
These standards apply to all units capable of looking after Level 2 or Level 3 critically ill patients, whether they are called Intensive Care, Critical Care or High Dependency Units and no distinction is made between them.
