Patients to get "second to none" care at Airedale's new ICU
Nurses say the last 18 months has shown how vital a state of the art intensive care unit can be
Doctors and nurses at Airedale General Hospital are thrilled to be getting a new Intensive Care Unit, as they say the pandemic has shown how vital specialist care can be.
Funding has been agreed to build a new ICU on site with its doors due to open in Spring 2022, so staff will have a modern space to treat the hospital’s sickest patients which will be flexible and able to adapt quickly to the needs of the community.
Lead nurse on the ICU, Alison Size, said the pandemic has opened people's eyes for how important the service is.
She said: "There were lots of challenges for us over the last 18 months and we needed to nurse a lot of covid patients away from other patients which was hard. It isn't ideal and covid brought to the forefront that we needed something bespoke that makes the patient experience better but also makes it easier for us to look after them.
"Covid really has brought out the best in people. I've never seen a team work so hard as our team has in the last 18 months and it really makes me quite emotional just thinking about the work they've done to help people."
Intensive care is needed if someone is seriously ill and requires intensive treatment and close monitoring. Most people in ICU have problems with one or more organs and there are many different conditions and situations that can mean someone needs intensive care. For example, a person may have been in a serious road accident, suffered a heart attack, or become ill with an infection such as pneumonia.
But the Community Charity is calling on the help of the public with this project to raise funds for the extras that are over and above NHS provision which they say "really make the difference" when patients and staff need it most.
They are wanting to include equipment like sensory lights to put over beds to make the unit a more pleasant environment for patients by helping to prevent delirium and improving sleep patterns, and soft furnishings, chairs and TVs for the relative room.
Patients and staff will also have direct access from the ICU to a sensory garden, so they can benefit from the fresh air and daylight during their recovery.
It will also give staff an outdoor environment to rest in during their breaks. To support this, the charity hopes to fund specific chairs that aid rehabilitation and that will enable patients to enjoy the garden, as well as benches, plants and murals.
Rachel Roberts, Patient Service Manager for Critical Care at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust Airedale, said: "With covid we've learnt so much about how not just to deal with the disease itself but also looking after ourselves and the patients and what we need to make things better for our community.
"It's not just about raising awareness for ICU but also to let our community know that this unit is for them and not for us. We're there to look after them and their relatives.
"This is what we signed up to do: to care for people in their hour of need. And we just want to make sure we have everything possible to make it comfortable for them."
Dr. Julie O’Riordan, Consultant Anaesthetist and Deputy Medical Director at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“The new ICU will bring huge benefits to the Airedale community. It will have much better spaces to treat patients and isolate them if they’re infectious, as well as quiet areas where clinicians can compassionately talk with relatives. With the help of Airedale Hospital and Community Charity, we want to provide an accessible garden for patients on ICU, which will really benefit their mental state and rehabilitation.
“It will be fantastic for staff morale, especially after such a difficult 18 months. The prospect of the new unit is already lifting morale within the department. People are really looking forward to working in a modern ICU.”
You can donate to the fundraiser for the new ICU here and got more information from the charity team on the Airedale Hospital Charity website.
Funds remaining after the appeal has closed will continue to be used for the benefit of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, its patients, employees and community.