Learning from critical care: Improving intra- and inter-hospital transfer processes in enhanced care and the ward.

The Intensive Care Society (ICS) has recently published guidance on the transfer of critically ill adults. Since 2007, the North West London Critical Care Network has documented and audited patient transfers undertaken across 13 hospitals, and trained staff in transferring critically ill or injured patients. In 2015/16 the network introduced intra-hospital transfer documentation and applied the same transfer training and audit methodology for critically ill patients being moved within hospitals.

A consensus to determine the ideal critical care transfer bag.

Background: Familiarity with environment, processes and equipment reduces the risk inherently associated with critical care transfers. Therefore, the North West London Critical Care Network decided to create a standardised ideal transfer bag and contents to improve patient safety.

Methods: A four-round modified Delphi survey developed a condensed and clinically tested content list.