What are the key differences between ICU and HDU?
The main difference between an intensive care (ICU) and high dependency unit (HDU) is the nurse-to-patient ratio.
Usually an ICU patient requires one-to-one nursing care, whilst a high dependency patient requires one nurse to every two patients. In contrast, on a normal ward two qualified nurses often care for up to 30 patients between them.
Whether a patient requires 1:1 or 1:2 nursing care depends on many factors including the number and nature of the organ support therapies they are receiving.
Also, ICUs are usually able to provide ventilation (on a breathing machine) and dialysis (for kidney failure). Most HDUs do not.
Some hospitals have separate intensive care and high dependency units. Other hospitals have combined units with a mixture of patients in one location.
In the latter case, a patient may ‘step down’ from being an ICU patient to being a HDU patient without moving units. They may move bed space to facilitate 1:2 care.
A coronary care unit (CCU) is a cardiac HDU but nursing ratio is normally 1:3. They also usually do not provide ventilation or dialysis.
Summary
We have described what are the key differences between ICU and HDU. We hope it has been helpful.
Other resource
Differences between ICU and CCU
Last Reviewed on 20 April 2024