Intensive Care Unit

The intensive care unit (ICU) is a special ward found in some hospitals. ICU cares for people who have life-threatening conditions, such as a serious injury or illness, where they receive around-the-clock monitoring and life support. It differs from other hospital wards in that:

• ICU provides 24-hour care from a highly-trained team of specialists
• there are fewer beds, with lots of equipment to monitor and care for critically ill patients
• fewer visitors are allowed