Quality of Patient Handover on Intensive Care Units in Northwest England

Continuity of patient care in the intensive care unit is dependent on reliable and accurate handover. The introduction of shift working for junior doctors as a result of the working time directive has resulted in a minimum of two handovers between medical staff in each 24-hour period. Structure and method of handover has been shown to critically influence the transfer of clinical information vital to the continuity of patient care. We conducted a telephone survey of the intensive care units in the north-west of England to establish details surrounding the methodology of handovers which are currently being used. We established that handovers in our region are generally occurring in a structured manner, but that the quality of handover, information transmitted and personnel present is varied. We advocate the use of a computer-based handover sheet to increase the accuracy of the handover process.