Overview
Patients are admitted to Critical Care when they need higher levels of intervention or closer monitoring than the regular wards can provide. This includes critically unwell patients and also patients after complex surgery, or with medical issues that need careful, closely monitored treatments.
Unlike other wards, patients in ICU are cared for with a nurse to patient ratio of 1:1 or 1:2, and are almost always attached to monitoring equipment.
The Critical Care Department is a 24 hour unit, with doctors in or near the unit at all times.
The unit is located on Level 4 of the Meade Clinical Centre - there are signs in the hospital and volunteers during daylight hours who can assist. More information on how to find us can be found on the 'Contact Us' page.
Our unit is a 24 hour one and we have no set visiting hours. If your loved one is critically unwell we can usually facilitate visitation at any time. In order to not disrupt sleep patterns of patients, daytime visits are preferable. We also encourage families to make sure they are caring for themselves when a loved one is critically unwell.
For space reasons, we limit to two visitors at a time (unless exceptional circumstances). Please talk to the reception staff at the waiting room before entering, they will ensure it is a suitable time.
We appreciate our visitors understanding for the points during the day when you may be asked to vacate the bedspace or wait in the waiting room before entering - this is to allow for important patient cares that require privacy (turning and cleansing) and procedures and/or medical assessment.
Most of our patients who have a breathing tube in are on one or more sedating medications. Even when sedated and connected to a ventilator, it is normal for these patients to cough sometimes and occasionally move. Sometimes patients on a ventilator may be awake enough for you to communicate clearly with them. Either way, we would encourage you to speak to them (or play them music) should you wish, it may help keep them comforted and orientated even if they aren't completely conscious.
Our Kaitiaki and Social Work supports can be contacted for assistance. While many of our patients may not be from the immediate vicinity of Waikato Hospital, the hospital only has a limited number of accommodation options available for whanau, however all efforts will be made to support how we can.
Waikato ICU functions mostly as a Paediatric High Dependency Unit (HDU) - this means that we have a low threshold to admit paediatric patients for monitoring and support, and will care for moderately unwell infants and children in our unit working closely with our local paediatric colleagues.
We work closely with Starship (New Zealand's Paediatric Intensive Care Unit - PICU) in Auckland, and our more unwell children are typically transferred there for ongoing specialist paediatric care, usually within 24 hours.
Where possible, we aim to care for our children is our more private side rooms, and usually can facilitate a parent to stay at all times.
We appreciate your assistance in caring for our patients by respecting the following:
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No photography without checking with your nurse (privacy is tantamount)
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Minimise excess personal belongings or large cumbersome gifts given restricted space
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No flowers please - patients with fragile lungs are often present
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No aggression or intoxication will be tolerated and you will be asked to leave the hospital
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Waikato Hospital offers the vast majority of Critical Care services, but certain subspecialised conditions to other centers:
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ECMO (artificial heart and/or lung support) - Auckland City Hospital
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Severe spinal cord injury - Middlemore Hospital
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Severe burns - Middlemore Hospital
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Organ transplant – Auckland City Hospital
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Paediatric Intensive Care (Starship)
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See My Life After ICU website for more general information about ICU- run by The Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS).
Frequently Asked Questions
Critical Care can be a scary and confusing place for families. However our team is here to help you and your loved ones. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions to our nurses, receptionists and doctors.
Some common questions: