Intensive Care

Figtree Private Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a state of the art 6-8 bed combined Intensive Care and Coronary Care Unit. The friendly team strive to provide the very best of Medical and Nursing Care both in the ICU and via Emergency response throughout the hospital. We are equipped for short-term ventilation and cardiac monitoring of patients with a variety of medical and surgical problems. The ICU receives patients from the operating theatres, wards and the public hospitals.

Being a close relative of a patient in the ICU can sometimes be an intimidating and frightening experience. Please appreciate that some patients may be more gravely ill than others. It is out of respect for the most acutely ill patients that the ICU has a strict rest period of 12-4pm and is different from the other wards. Visiting hours are 10am -12pm and 4pm – 8pm. If the only time you can visit is in the patient rest period please negotiate this with nursing staff prior to your visit.

When visiting, please ring the doorbell and wait outside until a staff member answers the door. We request that visitors be kept to a minimum of two people at any one time and be kept to short periods. In the acute post operative period, or in the acute phase of an illness, it is recommended that only family members visit. Children under 14 years of age are not permitted in the ICU without prior nursing approval.

Patients in the ICU do not have a phone by their bedside, however where possible a portable phone can be used to receive calls. Our contact number is (02) 4255 5187. Please note that due to the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 (C’wealth) and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW), no information can be given by staff over the phone. Information about surgery can only be given by the surgeon in person. We trust you understand this is a legal requirement.
We request that mobile telephones are not used within the hospital as they may interfere with patient monitoring equipment.

It is important that only essential personal belongings are brought into the unit. All other belongings should be kept at home or until transfer back to the ward. Alternatively, ward staff may pack belongings and store them. Please do not bring any valuables.

Flowers in the ICU can pose safety and infection control risks. Please save flowers until the patient is transferred to the ward and is feeling better.

Many patients require a special diet for cultural and medical reasons. All food at Figtree Private Hospital is prepared in accordance with current food safety requirements and legislation. To comply with these requirements, we discourage bringing in food from external sources.

Having photographs of family members and friends can be comforting to a patient who is in the unit for a long time. These are welcomed.