The multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and what they do

• Administrative team
• Advanced critical care nurse practitioner
• Doctors
• Nurses
• Nutrition and dietetics team
• Patient at risk and resuscitation team (PARRT)
• Associated therapies
• Pharmacy
• Psychology team

Administrative team

Our reception staff, housekeepers, clinical audit and administrative teams contribute greatly to the overall running of the ICU. They ensure the smooth running of the department by making sure all documentation and data is kept up-to-date and that our department is clean and safe.

Advanced critical care nurse practitioner (ACCNP)

ACCNPs are trained clinical professionals, usually from a nursing or allied health professional background, who have received further training in critical care. They are highly experienced staffwho combine the expertise of nurses and doctors.

Doctors

The ICU doctors’ team is led by a group of intensive care consultants and is made up of doctors at all levels of training. All care is consultant-led. Doctors make daily plans for patient care and lead on the provision of organ support, undertaking investigations and initiating treatment for  patients.

To ensure that all our patients receive the highest level of care, when necessary, we seek advice from other specialist doctors, both inside and outside the Royal Free London.

Nurses

Our nurses are pivotal to patients’ care and recovery on ICU. They undertake key tasks such as setting up, delivering and adjusting organ support, giving medication, delivering personal care and liaising with families. They are led by a team of senior nurses and matrons, who help to ensure the smooth running of our ICU.

Dieticians/nutritionists

The ICU dietitians/nutritionists provide advice on the best way to understand and deliver the nutritional needs of all patients in the ICU. They help decide how to provide nutrition, and determine how much energy, or calories, and protein the patient requires to help reduce the loss of muscle and weight.

The ICU dietitian also works alongside the MDT, contributing to consultant-led ward rounds and MDT meetings. They have regular meetings with consultants to share nutritional goals, risks and plans.

PARRT team

The patient at risk and resuscitation team (PARRT) is a 24/7 specialist nursing service which provides care to patients who may be more unwell, in any area of the hospital. The team attend all emergency calls and review all patients after they are discharged from the ICU.

Therapies team

Physiotherapists have very specialist skills and are a fundamental part of the MDT. The early involvement of physiotherapists is very important to the recovery of patients. Their focus in ICU is usually on respiratory management and rehabilitation. You can read more about this here.

Occupational therapists often work with physiotherapists. They help with rehabilitation, using a holistic approach, covering the functional, cognitive and psycho-social needs of our patients. They work with families to help achieve patient-centered goals in recovery.

Speech and language therapists (SLTs) help to ensure that patients recover the ability to speak and eat safely and smoothly. After spending time on ICU, patients’ voices and their ability to swallow are often affected, particularly if they have spent time on a breathing machine and/or have been fed through a tube in the nose.

Pharmacy

Our pharmacists ensure that all medication prescriptions and deliveries for patients in ICU are safe and reliable. They also help to ensure there is an adequate stock of all the medications needed for the day-to-day running of the unit. They work closely with the doctors and nurses to fulfil this role.

Psychology team

Our psychologists support the needs of patients and their families during an admission to ICU. They will help with assessing and managing a range of issues that can arise during admission. This can include acute distress, trauma, end of life and bereavement, cognitive difficulties, behavioural problems that impact on care or rehabilitation, amongst other areas.
Our aim to identify patients at risk of psychological distress post- discharge and signpost them to appropriate services.