Paediatric Intensive Care Units

Medical Services offers a highly specialised Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) transport service. Currently in operation in Oxford and in the North West, this year we will transport over 700 infants and children and provide transport advice on well over 1,200 cases.

The four person PICU team is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week and consists of an Intensive Care Consultant, a Registrar grade, an Intensive Care Nurse and a Medical Services Driver, generally at Intermediate Care Technician or Emergency Medical Technician level who is an integrated part of the team. The Medical Services ambulance driver takes on a Healthcare Assistant role, assisting the medical team in providing the right care to the patient.

Our vehicles are purpose built for paediatric journeys. Developed in conjunction with PICU teams from the local NHS in the North West, the vehicles are based on our High Dependency Units but are designed around the unique needs of a child patient and the ICU team’s equipment. In addition to a medications fridge, CCTV, medical air system, oxygen and facilities for baby pods, we have outfitted the ambulance with an extra seat so that a parent can accompany the child. The ambulances are equipped so that they are able to perform back to back transfers, without returning back to their station to reequip themselves.

Read our 2010 announcement about the launch of the service in the North West.