Unit Services

The St. George Hospital has a 14-bed adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Our unit provides specialised care to critically ill patients with many different surgical and medical problems. These range from respiratory (breathing), neurological (brain), specialised cancer surgery, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (heart-lung machine to support severe breathing problems,) and trauma patients with major injuries.

The St. George Hospital is an accredited teaching hospital of the University of New South Wales and a trauma care centre, which provides specialised trauma care to rural and smaller metropolitan hospitals. Patients admitted to our unit usually have various tubes or drips inserted for monitoring purposes. These monitors allow us to measure the patient’s heart rate, blood pressure and breathing observations.

We also have machines (called ventilators) that assist the patient with their breathing. Not all patients who come to our unit need a ventilator to help them breathe. Some patients may need other specialised equipment, such as dialysis (kidney machine).

Unit Staff

Intensive Care Staff Specialists provide the senior medical cover in the unit. One of them is present in the unit daily. When not in the unit, they can be reached by telephone. We also have ICU Registrars, and Resident Medical Officers who are rostered to work in the unit, ensuring a doctor’s presence 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week.

Specialist doctors from other departments also come to the ICU to help treat the patients. There is a senior nurse in charge of the unit every shift. If a patient needs help with their breathing (on a ventilator) one nurse will look after that patient each shift.

If a patient can breathe without the help of a ventilator, one nurse may be taking care of two (2) patients during the shift. Our unit also has the help of Allied Health Professionals such as physiotherapists and pharmacists through the day. A social worker is also available, who can assist with issues such as accommodation problems or support services.

Ministers of most religious denominations are also available to help at this difficult time.

Visitor Services

• Expectations of Visitors
• Visiting Hours
• Mobile Phones
• Waiting room
• Flowers
• Visitor Accommodation
• Support services (eg social worker/Pastoral Care)
• Hospital shop/Canteen
• ATM
• Phones
• Parking
• Hospital Patient Liaison

Other Hospital Services

Our hospital also has a Coronary Care Unit (for patients with non-surgical heart problems), a Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (for patients following heart and/or lung surgery) and a Dialysis Unit (for patients with kidney problems).

How To Get To St George Hospital

A map of the hospitals's location is below. A more detailed map can be found at the Whereis Online WebSite.