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/