Enhanced Care Unit

Enhanced Care Unit

Patient Information

• Author ID:           AK
• Leaflet Ref:         Musc 051
• Version:              3
• Leaflet title:         Enhanced Care Unit
• Date Produced:   April 2026
• Expiry Date:        April 2028

Welcome to Enhanced Care Unit 

The Enhanced Care Unit is known locally as ECU. 

At your pre-operative assessment appointment, you may have been seen by an Anaesthetist who assessed the type of anaesthetic needed for your operation. Based on this assessment, you have been referred to an ECU bed for monitoring after your surgery. 

The ECU is a mixed-sex area with six beds, where patients are continuously monitored overnight, sometimes for longer if needed.   A specialist team of nurses and Anaesthetists will work alongside your surgeon to care for you during your stay. 

While you are in ECU:

• Your blood pressure, temperature, and other vital signs will be checked every hour throughout the night 
• You will be attached to a monitor that sends this information to the clinical team 
• You may also need oxygen after your operation 
• Your nurse will usually be responsible for you and one other patient

On the morning after your operation, a team of healthcare professionals will review your progress and decide when you are ready to move to an in-patient ward. 

The nursing staff will liaise with the bed manager to arrange your transfer, and you will be moved to your ward bed once it is available. 

Please inform staff on the admission ward of any dietary requirements. They will pass this information on to the ECU Team, who will arrange your meals with catering. 

Belongings 

Please bring only essential belongings with you for your first night in, as storage space is limited. We recommend bringing items such as your glasses, hearing aids and a small amount of toiletries.

Your relatives can bring any additional belongings to you once you have been transferred to the ward,

ECU Contact Information 

0300 707 6261

We kindly ask that only one family member telephones the unit if they have any concerns about your condition, and that they share this information with the rest of your family. This helps us to focus on providing the best possible care for you. 

NHS Wi-Fi is available, but please be aware that both mobile phone and Wi-Fi signal can sometimes be poor in parts of the hospital. 

Visiting 

We do not recommend visiting on the first day after your surgery, as our priority is to ensure all patients are comfortable and well-settled during the immediate post-operative period. 

If you remain in ECU for a second day, visiting is limited to two visitors at a time, and is available from 2pm until 3pm and 6pm until 7pm. 

Please be aware that ECU can be a busy environment, and visiting arrangements may need to be adjusted to accommodate this. Any changes, or any exceptional visiting needs, will be at the lead nurse’s discretion. 

Concerns Regarding Your Stay 

If you have any concerns about your stay in ECU either prior, during or after your admission. Please contact the Lead Nurse on 0300 707 6261

We look forward to meeting you on the day of your operation.