Reading Intensive care unit (Royal Berkshire Hospital)

College Tutors

Dr Jon Hughes (jonathan.hughes@royalberkshire.nhs.uk)
Dr Mike Raffles (Michael.raffles@royalberkshire.nhs.uk )

This ICU has capacity for up to 24 beds with over 1000 admissions per year. The 16 consultants (with 3 recent appointments) work a weekly rota of two consultants on during the day and a third overnight. On Tuesday there is a third consultant on during the day to ensure protection of programmed teaching.

The 16 trainees and 6 trainee ACCPs work a full time rota, with 2 on at night and there is provision of extra clinical experience in other departments such as echocardiography, microbiology and bronchoscopy. The weekly consultant led teaching and radiology sessions are particularly well evaluated. The unit has a progressive approach to educational supervision.

Approximately 60% of patient are medical; with respiratory, cardiac, neurological and gastroenterology cases providing the major case-mix. The remainder of the patients are mainly surgical with a large emergency workload. In addition patients are treated following major urological, gastrointestinal and orthopaedic procedures.

Patients who have previously been an inpatient in cardiac and neuro centres are often weaned at Reading. Annually there are about 120 paediatric intubations and stabilisations prior to retrieval to Southampton or Oxford PICU’s (via SORT Network).

Trainees can expect exposure to a variety of advanced monitoring and therapeutic procedures. Examples include percutaneous tracheostomy (100 per year), ultrasound, ODM, echocardiography, bronchoscopy and PICCO. Audit and research are encouraged and supported by an advanced clinical information system, research nurses and a data manager. The research team are the leading recruiters to many national trials. Reading also has expertise beyond the traditional boundaries of Intensive Care. The follow-up clinic is the second oldest in the UK and there is a 24/7 outreach service who reviewed in the region of 1000 patients per month. A centrally funded bereavement expert co-ordinates relative follow-up, organ donation and staff pastoral care.