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Paediatric intensive care

What the service does
Who provides the service
How to access the service
Location of service
Useful links


What the service does

The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) looks after children who require:

  • organ support
  • higher levels of monitoring
  • continuous observation

Around half of all patients admitted to PICU will need help with their breathing. There are higher levels of staffing than on any other ward.

We are the only paediatric intensive care unit in Northern Ireland. We look after patients from all paediatric medical and surgical specialities across the region.

Who provides the service

A wide range of healthcare professionals look after patients in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, including:

  • doctors
  • nurses
  • physiotherapists
  • dieticians
  • pharmacists
  • medical technicians
  • psychologists

How to access the service

Patients may be admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit either as an emergency or as part of a planned event. It often happens after an operation.

Location of service

The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit is located in the Children’s Hospital on the Royal Hospitals site.

Useful links

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