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Critical care has played a crucial - and often life-saving - role in the treatment of people who have been seriously ill after contracting coronavirus in Wales.

First published:
28 May 2020
Last updated:

This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government

The NHS staff working in critical care units in hospitals across Wales are specialists in their field, providing round-the-clock expert care to very sick and injured people.

Dr Andrew Goodall, chief executive of NHS Wales, said:

“Critical care staff have been at the sharp end of the pandemic and I want to thank them all for their exceptional efforts and for the care they have provided – not just at the peak of the pandemic, but every day to all those people whose lives depend on it.”

354

The number of open and available critical care beds in Wales at the end of this week (May 27). This includes additional critical care capacity created to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

62%

...of our total critical care beds are currently empty and available for use if required at the end of this week (May 27).

42

Number of people being treated in critical care who have coronavirus. The majority of people being treated in critical care do not have coronavirus at the end of this week (May 27).

506

Number of people who have been treated in critical care for coronavirus in Wales since the beginning of the pandemic at the end of this week (May 27).

Fewer than 10%

...of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus are admitted to critical care. Our initial projections at the start of the pandemic were that this figure would be much higher.

56

The average age of someone with coronavirus being treated in critical care

75%

...of people with coronavirus who are admitted to critical care are mechanically ventilated within first 24 hours.

11 days

The average length of time someone with coronavirus needs respiratory support in critical care.

85%

...of people with coronavirus who needed respiratory support in critical care received advanced support and 44% received basic respiratory support. 

Nearly 5,500

The number of people who have been discharged from hospital, including critical care, after receiving treatment for coronavirus since the start of the pandemic. (May 27).