Question: What examples of good practice can you see in the HDU shown in Fig 1?

Answer: Good practice examples include:

• There is oxygen available
• There is a monitor available
• Observations are recorded on charts at the bottom of the bed
• There is some resuscitation equipment (bag valve mask)
• Beds are adjustable with cot sides and clean sheets
• The patients look fairly comfortable (although they may be more comfortable sitting up more)

Question: What could be improved?

Answer

Question: What examples of good practice can you see in the HDU shown in Fig 1?

Answer: Good practice examples include:

• There is oxygen available
• There is a monitor available
• Observations are recorded on charts at the bottom of the bed
• There is some resuscitation equipment (bag valve mask)
• Beds are adjustable with cot sides and clean sheets
• The patients look fairly comfortable (although they may be more comfortable sitting up more)

Question: What could be improved?

Answer: Areas for improvement are:

• The beds are very close together
• There is no room for nurses to sit by the bedside
• Most of the staff are in another room, not by the bedside
• The monitor does not work properly: there is interference on the ECG and no SpO₂ probe
• There is only one monitor: not all patients require continuous monitoring but there should be portable devices which can be moved between patients
• Hand washing facilities are far from the patients' beds