About the Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PICU/NICU)

Our aim is to provide excellent care to critically ill babies and children in an environment that is sensitive to the needs of the child and the family. 

We are the lead centre for paediatric intensive care in North Thames and a recognised centre for training in paediatric intensive care medicine. Our intensive care unit is one of the largest for children in the UK and Europe.

There are two distinct units: the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), however they work closely together.

Approximately 900 patients per year are admitted to PICU. Our patients come from the North Thames area and also further afield from all over the UK and abroad. This reflects the wide range of specialist services that can be provided for critically ill children in our unit.

We offer support and services for our colleagues in specialities such as general surgery, oncology, neurology, metabolic medicine, renal, spinal surgery, ENT, respiratory and endocrinology.

GOSH is the only UK centre for the treatment of infants with Vein of Galen malformation who often require intensive care services. We are one of the two London centres for children requiring neurosurgery and intensive care in London.

Our staff on PICU are acutely aware of the stress suffered by parents and relatives of children who are admitted to the unit and have developed a large support network. We have a team of family liaison nurses, a play specialist, accessibility to interpreters, social workers and psychological support for those who need it.

Our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) treats approximately 450 patients per year. There are no maternity services within GOSH so this is not a traditional NICU.

The NICU at Great Ormond Street Hospital is a level 3 tertiary infant unit that provides excellent specialised care for critically ill babies and their families. The unit will take premature infants and babies up to 6 months old. We lead in complex neonatal surgery and often treat neonates with necrotising enterocolitis, bowel obstruction, oesophageal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistulae and other congenital anomalies. Neonates with complex medical and surgical problems from other specialties are also admitted.

The NICU is part of the North Thames Central Neonatal Network. In this collaboration we aim to provide the best service possible for neonates by sharing best practice and service opportunities with our colleagues in UCLH, Whittington, Royal Free, Chase Farm and Barnet. We have regular meetings with colleagues from UCH neonatal unit to discuss shared patients and best practice.

Our staff on NICU also have a strong support network for families and there are regular midwife clinics, family liaison nurses, psychological support and breast feeding specialists available.