10 quick wins for managing COVID surge in ICU

30 January 2021

Frontline clinicians working with the National CLEAR Programme for ICU have published ten recommendations that can be adopted in ICU in 48 hours, to help manage the COVID surge. A team of twelve clinicians, working collaboratively across four London Trusts identified these “quick wins” in response to the experiences and reflections of ICU staff in the first wave of the pandemic.

The work from these four national CLEAR projects is sponsored by NHS Health Education England, as part of the London Transformation and Learning Collaborative to increase critical care capacity in London. The trusts taking part are University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Barts Health NHS Trust. The National CLEAR Programme provides training, data analytics and modelling tools for Clinically-Led workforcE and Activity Redesign (CLEAR).

CLEAR programme designer and mentor, Dr Alexandra Monkhouse said;

“The CLEAR projects have been looking at how staff wellbeing affects the ability of ICUs to manage the COVID surge and what measures we can take very quickly to provide the right support. The big issues that people highlight as problematic are communications, administration, training and support, as well as being aware of and promoting staff wellbeing. Our ten “quick wins” provide very simple, straightforward suggestions that can make a big difference when staff are under so much pressure. I’m delighted that they have the endorsement of the Intensive Care Society and the British Association of Critical Care Nurses.”

A simple checklist for the “Ten quick wins for managing the COVID surge in ICU” and a more detailed slide presentation is available on the HEE website. Scroll down to Related Documents after clicking https://lnkd.in/eG-Z3nk Further information and learning resources are available from the London Transformation and Learning Collaborative https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/london-transformation-and-learning-collaborative-ltlc/