Table 2 Suggested action card for the intensive care unit physician

Initial actions

   • Make contact with the incident medical director (emergency department consultant).

   • Check details of the incident.

   • Assess the need for ICU beds and the timeframe.

   • Liase with the senior ICU nurse and identify potential increases in capacity.

   • Liase with the senior anaesthetist and senior surgeon.

   • Consider the level of response required and identify staffing.

   • Establish the need for satellite ICU/high-dependency unit beds or other beds.

   • Ensure a sufficient number of runners to relay information on patient movements.

   • Establish an ICU control room with updates.

Clinical care

   • Identify current patients suitable for transfer.

   • Designate senior ICU medical representation for the resuscitation room.

   • Identify likely ICU patients and their dispersal (theatres, computed tomography, or direct admissions).

   • Ensure that care is not compromised in existing non-incident ICU patients.

   • In the event that resources are overwhelmed, liase with other senior clinicians about the diverting of patients.

Post-incident

   • Identify pitfalls in planning early and address them at the earliest opportunity.

   • Ensure the ongoing welfare and support of staff, patients, and relatives.