Children's intensive care

The unit cares for children with life-threatening conditions, including severe infections such as pneumonia and meningitis, severe trauma, airway problems, neurological conditions and those who have undergone surgery. We treat all causes of critical illness in children apart from acute cardiac surgery and neurosurgical conditions. We have access to all diagnostic tests provided by the Trust.

Children admitted to the children's intensive care unit receive one-to-one nursing care and are looked after by a dedicated medical team. Parents are provided with accommodation nearby and psychological support should they require it.

Clinical trials and research

We are actively involved in many clinical trials, including into meningitis, septicaemia, bronchiolitis and acute lung injury. We also carry out follow-up studies of children and their families who have been discharged from children's intensive care unit. 

Education

For information about elective placements, please email Dr Thomas Bycroft at thomas.bycroft@nhs.net

We offer placements, observerships, fellowships and research fellowships when appropriate. Please email Dr Nadel at s.nadel@imperial.ac.uk.

We also offer nurse placements and placements for other health professionals. Please email Mr Scott O'Brien at scott.o'brien@nhs.net for more information.

Further online resources

• Children’s Acute Transport Service (CATS)
• Cosmic Charity: Caring for babies and children in intensive care at St Mary’s Hospital and Queen Charlotte’s Hospital

Our children's intensive care unit is at St Mary's Hospital.

Address

Children's intensive care unit
Seventh floor
Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother (QEQM) building
St Mary’s Hospital
Praed Street
London W2 1NY

Contact information

Phone: 020 3312 6466
Phone: 020 3312 6380 (inpatient number)

The unit’s secretary is Simon Naylor, who can be reached by calling 020 3312 7683.

Our children's intensive care unit is managed by a team of consultants and nurse specialists. 

Consultants

Dr Thomas Bycroft, consultant paediatric intensivist, clinical director for critical care and medical specialities, honorary CATS consultant 
Dr Mehrengise Cooper, consultant paediatric intensivist, divisional director for medical education
Dr Emily Krennerich, honorary consultant paediatric intensivist, locum CATS consultant 
Dr Aida Lopez de Pedro, locum consultant paediatric intensivist
Dr Rebecca Mitting, consultant paediatric intensivist, Clinical Lead for PICU 
Dr Simon Nadel, consultant paediatric intensivist, lead clinician and adjunct professor in paediatric intensive care 
Professor Padmanabhan Ramnarayan, consultant paediatric intensivist, professor in paediatric critical care, honorary CATS consultant 
Dr Ruchi Sinha, consultant paediatric intensivist
Dr Toranj Wadia, consultant paediatric intensivist, unit training lead
Dr Amira Zahari, locum consultant paediatric intensivist

Nurses

Mrs Rebecca Lytton, lead nurse
Ms Helen Avila, family liaison nurse, paediatrics and neonatal services
Ms Jo Williams, family liaison nurse

Find out how to refer patients to our children's intensive care unit. 

GP

Referrals should be made via the Children’s Acute Transfer Service (CATS) on 020 7430 5850 (please state St Mary’s Hospital as a preference). Alternatively, they can be made direct to the children's intensive care unit using the following contact details:

Children's intensive care unit
Seventh floor
Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother (QEQM) building
St Mary’s Hospital
Praed Street
London W2 1NY

Phone: 020 3312 6466

The unit’s secretary is Simon Naylor, who can be reached by calling 020 3312 7683.

GP advice

For advice on referrals, please contact the consultant on call for the children's intensive care unit via switchboard on 020 3312 6666.

Secondary care

For advice on referrals or general advice on a seriously ill child, please contact the consultant on call for the children's intensive care unit via switchboard on 020 3312 6666, or call the unit directly and ask to speak to the consultant on call (number 020 3312 6466).