Abstract

It is unlikely that in the short or medium term the PIC service can be restructured to such an extent that no children would need to be admitted to an adult ICU. Until this is the case the contribution of adult ICUs to the provision of PIC should be acknowledged and formally recognised as part of the service. Furthermore, there should be active support for these units from major/regional centres. There are clearly only a few adult ICUs which admit significant numbers of children. However, a more detailed analysis of adult ICUs is required to identify units which have available the full range of facilities, support services and appropriate staff to care for critically ill children. It is likely that only a few adult ICUs could meet the recommendations above, and it is in these units where efforts need to be concentrated. It is imperative that any nationally agreed standards or guidelines for PIC must apply equally to both adult ICU and paediatric ICU.