The aims of High Dependency care are:

• To observe patients closely, act on abnormalities, and so prevent clinical deterioration
• To provide complex interventions that require further training or closer observation such as non-invasive ventilation, epidural care or some drug infusions
• To provide nursing care to more dependant patients
• To use resources more efficiently by having critically ill patients in one place
• To prevent complications such as hospital-acquired infection, pressure sores and deep vein thrombosis