University Hospital North Durham

Contact Details
  • Address: University Hospital North Durham, North Road, Durham, DH1 5TW
  • ICU Department Contact Details - 01913 332360
  • Faculty Tutor Name:  Dr Hannah Whinn
Unit Structure
  • Number of Beds: 10        
  • Number of Admissions per year: Total admissions per year 560, mixture of level 2 and 3.
  • Percentage of Elective vs Emergency Admissions: 10% elective, 90% emergency
Overview of Case Mix within the Unit:
  • Mixture of emergency and elective patients from general medicine, general surgery, colorectal surgery, gynaecology, orthopaedics (including revision surgery) and trauma, plastics.
  • There is no split site working at this site
Research projects being undertaken within this Unit:
  • Participation with portfolio studies – most recently GenOMICC, T4P, Organ Donation National Audit, SIGNET, SHORTER. 
Overview of the staffing for the Unit (including medical, ACCP, AHPs)
  • Weekdays

Two residents/trust grades 0800 – 1800

One Foundation year 1 doctor 0800 – 1600

One consultant 0800 – 1800 assisted by a second ‘HDU consultant 0800 – 1230

  • Out of Hours

One resident/trust grade 1800 – 2030 Mon to Fri

One resident/trust grade 0800 – 2030 Sat and Sun

One resident/trust grade 2000 - 0830

On site support provided by Anaesthetics ST3-7

One Consultant 1800 – 0800 (0800 – 0800 weekends)

  • Dedicated pharmacist, physiotherapists, dietician and RCI team

 
 

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
  • Acting up as an ICM Consultant (for Stage 3 trainees)
  • Other: Placements for stages 1 and 2 ICM for Anaesthesia, stages 1-3 ICM training, as well as ACCS and IMT.  We could also support part of advanced training in association with a tertiary centre. There are trust grade jobs available within the department and we would be happy to work with Advanced Critical Care Practitioners.
  • We also have a foundation 1 post and offer foundation programme taster weeks.
  • Exposure to practical procedures such as percutaneous tracheostomy, vascular access, bronchoscopy, thoracic ultrasound, echo (including FICE mentorship) and regional anaesthesia.
Departmental Teaching:

  • Formal ITU teaching is scheduled as part of a weekly Wednesday afternoon teaching programme.

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

  • There is a clinical governance meeting including M and M and journal club every 4th Wednesday afternoon.
The medical specialties and subspecialties it is possible to complete within the Trust/Health Board:
  • Stage 1:  Anaesthesia, Emergency Medicine, ICM and Medicine  
Other facilities: 
  • On site parking. 
  • On call room near ITU. 
  • Out of hours food via vending machines. 
  • Resource room with IT access in Anaesthetic department for resident doctors.