Colchester General Hospital

• Colchester General Hospital Critical Care Unit is recognised for all Stages of Intensive Care Medicine training.
• Emergency medical admissions comprise around 70% of admissions. Co-morbidity in the local population is prevalent. Of the remaining admissions, around half are elective surgical cases and half follow emergency surgery.
• We are a centre for elective and emergency major vascular, major colorectal and robotic surgery.
• The Dame Clare Marx Elective Orthopaedic Centre opened in 2024, adding 8 operating theatres and making ESNEFT a major hub for orthopaedic procedures.
• Although 16 beds are commissioned, surge capacity during the covid pandemic facilitated up to 28 patients.
• There is additionally a Postoperative Care Unit which provides care for a further 2-6 elective patients.
• Critically ill children undergo initial stabilisation by the critical care team before retrieval. There are between 20-40 paediatric retrievals annually
• There is no split site working within this unit

The department is actively involved in research, current trials include:

1. REMAP-CAP trial

2. SIGNET trial

3. UK-ROX trial

4. MOSAIC trial

Recent trials include CIRCA and EFFORT

Consultant cover is 1 in 10: resident from 08:00 to 22:00.

Two consultants cover the unit in the morning.

Currently we have the following non-consultant staffing. There is a minimum of 3-4 during weekdays: An airway-trained rota with doctors from core anaesthetic, ACCS or Anaesthesia/ICM specialty training background; we also have clinical fellows and specialty doctors. Non-airway rota includes ACCS trainees, IMT trainees, foundation year doctors and advanced critical care practitioners (ACCPs)

There is a nurse in charge, and a 24 hour Critical Care Outreach Team service.

The unit has a range of allied disciplines providing expertise, including a Clinical Psychologist.

• Training in point of care ultrasound - accredited FUSIC mentors
• Opportunity to attend theatre for airway experience
• Exposure to paediatric emergencies - as well as NICU experience
• Interhospital transfers 
• Acting up as an ICM Consultant (for Stage 3 trainees) 
• There are twice daily multidisciplinary consultant ward rounds although senior trainees will be encouraged to lead on these.
• There is a daily microbiology ward round, and a weekly rehabilitation multidisciplinary ward round.
• On-calls will give exposure to critically ill adults and children and their immediate stabilisation.
• There is a regular ICU follow up clinic, which trainees are encouraged to attend. Attendance is also encouraged at weekly M&M meetings and departmental governance meetings.
• The unit is equipped with a variety of modern organ support forms, including citrate haemofiltration. Our ventilators and point-of-care ultrasound machines are state-of-the-art having been replaced in 2020.
• We have an electronic clinical information system for documentation and prescription (MetaVision).
• There is good opportunity to be involved in teaching and simulation; quality improvement; and research.
• Timetabled “Educational Development Time” is provided to aid this.
• We are able to provide FUSIC echocardiography training with accredited mentors.
• FFICM and FRCA viva practice can also be facilitated.

• Weekly ICM teaching delivered by consultants, including simulation
• Weekly anaesthetic teaching also by consultants
• Bi-weekly journal club
• Trust Grand Round
• FUSIC-training

Weekly M&M and monthly governance meetings are held

• Car parking (via permit) and cycle parking facilities on site
• The department has on-call rooms and access to hospital accommodation
• There is a 24 hour library; departmental IT facilities; and dedicated resource room for teaching/meetings
• There are a number of on-site facilities serving food (restaurant, M&S, Costa, Subway, WH Smith) until 21:00