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Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit (Neuro ICU)

One of the most striking developments in medical care over the last 20 years has been the ability to support patients with critical illness until they can recover.

Modern intensive and high dependency care allows increasingly complex surgery to be performed.

Medical treatment for brain injury and a variety of other serious illnesses is progressing forward rapidly.

Sophisticated radiological techniques, such as coil embolisation of cerebral aneurysms, are also supported by the work of the intensive care unit.

About Neuro ICU

We mainly care for patients who need medical, surgical or radiological treatment for a variety of conditions relating to the brain, spine or nervous system.

We also care for other specialist patients from areas such as plastic surgery, ENT and trauma.

Our Clinical Lead and a group of specialist Consultant Neuro-Intensivists lead the medical team. Neurosurgeons, Neurologists and specialist doctors visit the unit on a daily basis.

This is a regional unit covering:

  • Oxford
  • Swindon
  • Northampton
  • Aylesbury
  • Reading
  • Milton Keynes
  • Kettering
  • High Wycombe.

Occasionally we have patients from overseas. The unit contains beds for patients who need intensive care and high dependency care. There is one nurse for each patient in intensive care and, usually, one nurse for each two high dependency patients.

Once a patient no longer requires intensive care, they will usually be transferred to their local hospital or a specialty ward in the Trust for continued care.

When patients are transferred to a ward, they no longer require the same level of care and consequently the nurse to patient ratio is lower. Some patients may be transferred to the Neurosciences High Care Unit, a seven bed unit within the Neurosciences Ward, providing higher levels of nursing care and monitoring than is normally available on the ward.

Staff

Consultants

  • Dr Martin Birch - Clinical Lead
  • Dr Birte Feix
  • Dr Karina Fitzgibbon
  • Dr Lara Prisco
  • Dr Simon Raby
  • Dr Richard Siviter
  • Dr Mhairi Speirs
  • Dr Dan Wood

Nursing staff

Clinical Nurse Manager

Mary Sunderland: mary.sunderland@ouh.nhs.uk

Senior Sister and Practice Development Nurse

Mariana Lima: mariana.lima@ouh.nhs.uk

Charge Nurse / Clinical Governance

  • Kurt Ayran
  • Rui Feteira

Senior Charge Nurse

Lawrence Lever

Senior Sisters

  • Elizabeth Chick
  • Natasha Flipo
  • Daniela Fonseca
  • Danielle Parker
  • Abby Paterson
  • Marife Tabernilla
  • Carla Tapping
  • Naomi Wakefield

There are also nurses specialising in Research and Audit.

Find us and contact us

Neuro ICU is based at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Tel: 01865 234918 / 231396

Last reviewed:24 September 2024