Activity Levels and Outcomes of a Standalone Regional Paediatric High Dependency Unit

Area of Science:

• Pediatric critical care
• Healthcare management
• Respiratory and neurological disorders in children

Background:

• The Paediatric High Dependency Unit (PHDU) at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) is the sole standalone unit outside Dublin.
• Assessing regional PHDU populations is crucial for understanding pediatric critical care needs.
• Comparison with international standards ensures quality and identifies areas for improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the patient population of a regional PHDU.
• To compare UHL PHDU outcomes with international benchmarks (PICANet).
• To evaluate the clinical governance and tertiary care transfer rates.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 126 patient admission records from January to December 2019.
• Data collection included patient demographics, diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes.
• Outcomes were compared against established international standards.

Main Results:

• Respiratory (64.3%) and neurological (18.3%) conditions were the most common admissions.
• Median length of stay was 2 days; average age was 3.97 years.
• 65% required oxygen, 32.1% needed CPAP, and 10.3% were transferred for tertiary care.

Conclusions:

• UHL PHDU patient demographics and outcomes align with international trends.
• The unit demonstrates satisfactory patient outcomes with low tertiary transfer rates.
• Developing regional PHDU capacity can alleviate pressure on PICU beds, especially during peak seasons.