Critical Care Clinical Network
Clinical Lead: Mr. Shameer Gopal (RWT), Project Manager: Polly Kaur (BCPC)
A primary driver for the establishment of the Critical Care Network was centred around addressing the inequalities of care and timely access to Intensive Care Units which were emphasized during the pandemic highlighting the need to level up across the system with a key focus on expansion of bed base and workforce.
The Critical Care Network undertook a benchmarking exercise which confirmed the key priority areas of focus for this programme.
This benchmarking approach confirmed a level of disparity across the four Trusts resulting in inequalities of access to urgent care provision resulting in the identification of a work programme for progression. The following is a list of both the priority focus and progress.
- Expansion of Advanced Critical Care Practitioner (ACCP) Workforce
- Expansion of Level 1 Surgical Beds at RWT
- Expansion of NIV/RSU Beds at WHT
- Critical Care Clinical Information System
- Standardisation of Guidelines
Looking Ahead
As we move forward in to 2023-24, we will:
- Continue to engage with commissioners to agree opportunities to fund business cases for expansion of bed base.
- Work collaboratively with our ICB colleagues to firm up the business case for Critical Care Clinical Information system.
- Through our Critical Care Network Meetings continue to work collaboratively on emerging local and national priorities for Adult Critical Services with a key focus on Quality and Performance.
- Through our established Clinical Guidelines Group agree scope of work and aim to review those guidelines that will have the biggest impact on quality of care that we deliver across the system.
More Information
You can read more about the Critical Care Clinical Network in the BCPC Annual Report 2022-23.