Allevia Hospitals provides care across a broad spectrum of surgical complexity, supported by an experienced Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and High Dependency Unit (HDU) team.
3 mins minute read
While private hospital care is sometimes associated with more straightforward procedures, Allevia Hospitals also cares for patients undergoing complex, high-acuity surgery.
Our ICU and HDU team at Epsom provides specialised postoperative care for patients following procedures including open-heart surgery, complex head and neck surgery, major spinal surgery, cystectomies, liver surgery, and minimally invasive oesophagectomies. The team also supports patients whose existing health conditions mean they require closer monitoring following surgery.
Specialist experience when it matters most
Caring for patients following major surgery requires specialist knowledge, experience, and the ability to respond quickly as a patient’s needs change.
Our ICU team includes around 20 highly experienced nurses. Nearly all have previously worked in large public intensive care units, while many also bring international experience.
Depending on their clinical needs, patients may receive one-to-one nursing care in ICU, including ventilatory support and continuous monitoring. Patients who do not require intensive care can be cared for in HDU, where they receive a higher level of monitoring and support as they recover from surgery.
This combination of ICU and HDU capability means patients can receive an appropriate level of postoperative care within Allevia Hospitals following complex procedures.
Working together around the patient
Close collaboration is central to the way the team works.
When a patient arrives from theatre, ICU nurses work closely with the anaesthetist and surgeon to understand the patient’s needs and postoperative plan. From there, the nursing team provides ongoing monitoring and care, communicating with specialists and escalating any concerns when required.
Many members of the ICU team have worked with Allevia Hospitals’ surgeons and anaesthetists for many years, creating strong professional relationships based on trust and mutual respect.
For patients and their whānau, much of this teamwork happens behind the scenes, but it plays an important role in supporting patients through the critical first stages of recovery following major surgery.
Experience, flexibility, and a strong team culture
The clinical expertise within the unit is matched by a strong sense of teamwork.
The ICU team describes itself as close-knit and supportive, with colleagues looking out for one another both professionally and personally. Its flexibility is also essential, allowing the team to respond to changing surgical programmes and patient needs.
That culture has remained strong as the team has transitioned from the former ICU in the old hospital building to the larger ICU and HDU in the new Gilgit Wing.
Together, their experience, specialist knowledge, and close collaboration with surgeons and anaesthetists help Allevia Hospitals provide care for patients undergoing some of our most complex surgical procedures.
