A NEW critical care outreach team has been launched at Airedale Hospital.

The six-strong team, whose members are each trained in advanced lifesaving skills, can respond to situations across the hospital.

Available 24/7, it may be called upon by any ward where a patient's condition has worsened.

The team could advise the ward or attend to treat the patient itself, and provide expert support to clinical staff.

Members are also able to monitor an online patient data system and receive alerts if a person's condition starts to worsen.

Paul Anderson, critical care nurse and team leader at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: "When we see a patient, we do a comprehensive assessment and then make recommendations to colleagues and suggest some early actions that the nurses could do – or we can step in and provide the care ourselves, to support the ward.

"If necessary, we can quickly get the patient into critical care."

The team also reviews every patient when they leave intensive care, receiving notification of each person departing the intensive care unit or high dependency unit for the wards within 12 hours.

Team members ensure post intensive care plans are followed and that patients' rehabilitation needs are being met. They continue to see patients until they know they're making a full recovery following their intensive care, sometimes just to provide support and reassurance.

In one month alone, the team assessed and treated nearly 300 patients – and as a result, only five needed to be admitted to the intensive care unit.

Critical care matron, Julie Brook, says: "Catching any deterioration early has obvious benefits for the patient’s long-term health and their length of stay in hospital. For every week too spent in critical care a patient can lose ten per cent muscle mass, which in itself equates to a month’s recovery.

"If our patients don’t get that early intervention, then their risks of deterioration increase. This service helps reduce the need for critical care. It also improves the patient's experience of being in hospital, as well as reducing pressure on services. We are very fortunate to be able to provide this service 24/7 to staff and patients, as almost half the patients we assess are seen during night hours.

"The feedback from staff has been excellent. They appreciate the expertise and support available 24 hours a day and the fact the team can start interventions early themselves."