Someone I know has been admitted

Critical Care Units can be called various names which all mean the same thing, for example: Critical Care Unit (CCU), Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU). Critical Care Units are specialist hospital wards which deliver treatment and monitoring for people who are very unwell and require support that cannot be given in a normal ward setting.

People are admitted to Critical Care if they are seriously ill and need intensive treatment, organ support and close monitoring, or if they are having surgery and Critical Care can help them with recovery.

Critical Care Units have much higher staffing levels than normal wards. The main goal of the team is to provide high level care and support for all patients and families.

More information about why someone may be on Critical Care and what this involves can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/intensive-care/

The team of doctors working on Critical Care will aim to speak to you within 24 hours of admission of your loved one. However, if you need to speak with them before or after this, please speak with the nurse in charge to arrange this for you. It can take several hours to settle a patient onto Critical Care so please don’t be alarmed if we ask you to wait before seeing them or speaking to a doctor.

There are three Critical Care sites across CTMUHB and each unit has different visiting times and procedures. To find the visiting times and a contact number for the site where someone you know has been admitted, please see below:

It is normal to feel shock and disbelief when your loved one is first admitted to Critical Care. This may affect your sleep, appetite and whether you carry on with your usual daily activities. This is an entirely normal response and usually gets better with time.

CTM Chaplaincy Service

Chaplains are available at all hospital sites. They provide spiritual, pastoral and religious care (if required). You do not need to be religious to use these services.  

Chaplains can support staff, patients and carers, who may wish to talk things over or try and make sense of their experience. They may not be able to give you answers but they can, at least, help you to reflect upon your circumstances and, perhaps, find value and meaning within them. 

If your loved one has any religious or faith needs, please make sure that their bedside nurse is aware. If you need a place for spiritual, pastoral or religious care, the rooms of prayer at each site can be found below:

Email: CTUHB_ChaplaincySpiritual@wales.nhs.uk

Critical Care Family Support Service

There is a dedicated Family Support Service which aims to support families and loved ones of a patients in Critical Care across CTMUHB. You can access this via the Nurse in Charge or Consultant in Critical Care. This aspect of the service is run by the Critical Care Psychology Team.

Members of the Psychology Team wear teal scrubs - please feel free to approach them when you are on the unit. The Psychology Team may also come and have a chat with you to check in on your wellbeing to support you, as well as supporting your loved ones.