Glan Clwyd Hospital, North Wales

Contact Details
  • Address: Glan Clwyd Hospital, Sarn Lane, Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, LL18 5UJ
  • ICU Department Contact Details - 03000844080
  • Faculty Tutor Name:  Dr Gareth Thomas - Gareth.Thomas12c36a@wales.nhs.uk
Unit Structure
  • Number of Beds: 13                  
  • Number of Admissions per year: Level 3:250     Level 2:500
  • Percentage of Elective vs Emergency Admissions: 50/50
Overview of Case Mix within the Unit:
  • We have 13 adult critical care beds, of which 8 offer level 3 care.
  • We admit around 850 patients per year: approximately half are surgical (including elective).  About a third of patients require Level 3 care, with mean APACHE II score 16-17 and mean age around 60 years.  We occasionally admit under 18-year-olds for short-term care (e.g. intubated following seizures) or pending transfer to a tertiary centre.  Our median length of stay is 2-3 days and SMR around one.
  • We are the regional centre for Vascular Surgery, Oncology, for Maxillofacial Surgery, and for Interventional Cardiology. We are home to the North Wales Cardiac Centre, offering primary PCI and associated therapies. We are one of three Cardiac Arrest Centres in Wales.
  • As a rural Trauma Unit, the hospital frequently receives undifferentiated major trauma, and ICU doctors have a major role in resuscitating these patients and turning them around for transfer to the regional Major Trauma Centre 100 miles away. We are supported in this by a fully-staffed ED, and 24/7 imaging.
  • There is no split site working within this Unit
Research projects being undertaken within this Unit:
  • Multiple. We have dedicated research nurses, and most of our residents take on an API role for one of our portfolio studies. We were a major recruiter for UKROX, and we currently recruit to:
  • MOSAIC (Sodium Bicarbonate – does it reduce need for RRT?)
  • EPOCH study (Emergency Laparotomy quality improvement project)
  • MARCH (Mucolytics – are they any good?)
  • SHORTER (Shorter course of antibiotics)
Overview of the staffing for the Unit (including medical, ACCP, AHPs)
  • Full-shift, EWTD-compliant rotas.  1:8 out-of-hours rota. 
  • At least two residents are based in ICU during daytime hours, usually more 
  • Out-of-hours cover (17.30-08.30): Dedicated ICM cover by two residents, supported by 2 additional anaesthesia middle grades covering theatres and obstetrics.
  • We have 3 fully qualified ACCPs who contribute to the rota.
  • We have a full range of AHPs supporting the unit: pharmacy, physio, SALT, OT, rehab, psychology. We have a 24/7 outreach service. 

Training

Training opportunities when working at this Unit:
  • Training in point of care ultrasound 
  • Opportunity to attend theatre for airway experience 
  • Exposure to paediatric emergencies
  • Interhospital transfers - (but most transfers done by a dedicated service)
  • Opportunity to attend a Cardiac Catheterisation lab
  • Acting up as an ICM Consultant (for Stage 3 trainees) 

  • Other: Management/Leadership/QI
Departmental Teaching:
  • Weekly lunchtime 2-hour teaching offered jointly with anaesthesia, covering both syllabuses.
  • Monthly all-Wales ICM all-day teaching on Teams.
  • Daily consultant-led handover
  • Daily consultant-led ward rounds
  • Weekly Microbiology ward round

Details of clinical governance meeting days and/or M & M:                             

  • Monthly afternoon CG day which consists of: Journal Club; M&M; educational hour; CG business meeting.
  • Residents have an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to all of these aspects of CG.
  • We encourage residents to attend hospital-wide educational events: weekly lunchtime educational meeting; weekly Medical Grand Round.
  • We run courses relevant to ICM: BASIC; Transfer; Trauma; Clinical Skills.
The medical specialties and subspecialties it is possible to complete within theTrust/Health Board:
  • Stage 1:  Emergency Medicine, Medicine & Anaesthesia   

Which SSYs are offered in your unit:                     

  • Academic Research
  • Critical Care Echo
  • Education
  • QI in Healthcare
  • Transfer Medicine            
Other facilities: 
  • Residents have access to a dedicated doctors’ mess which has just been refurbished. Our ICU offers IT facilities for residents, as well as a large seminar room with videoconferencing capability. The hospital has a large library, and a well-equipped postgraduate centre.
  • There is hot food on site daytime, and limited opening hours for hot food overnight.
  • The entire hospital has been rebuilt in the past 5 years, and this includes the ICU.
  • Parking is free.