Letters

Providing intensive care

EDITOR,--D W Ryan points out that increasing resources is one solution to the current crisis in the provision of intensive care services.¹ The editorial fails, however, to address the problem of the inefficient use and staffing of some units.

About 210 cases of major trauma occur in adults each year in Birmingham. About one third of the patients are admitted to the major injuries unit at University Hospital (formerly sited at the Birmingham Accident Hospital). Most of the rest are managed at the two other main district general hospitals. There are 24 general beds in intensive therapy units on the three sites, five of which are allocated to the major injuries unit. The major injuries unit is separately staffed by four consultant anaesthetists and junior anaesthetic staff on rotation and, in addition, has eight consultant and 18 junior orthopaedic . . . [Full text of this article]

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Fraser, J, Henrichsen, T, Mok, Q, Tasker, R C (1998). Prolonged mechanical ventilation as a consequence of acute illness. Arch. Dis. Child. 78: 253-256 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Fraser, J., Mok, Q., Tasker, R. (1997). Survey of occupancy of paediatric intensive care units by children who are dependent on ventilators. BMJ 315: 347-348 [Full text]  
• Michael, J., Hibbert, R., Plewes, J. (1996). Providing intensive care. BMJ 313: 111a-111 [Full text]  
• Alpar, E K, King, M (1996). Authors misinterpreted results of study that they cited. BMJ 313: 111b-111 [Full text]