What is "high dependency unit"

n. (context healthcare English) An area for patients who require more intensive observation, treatment and nursing care than would be usually provided on a general ward. A standard of care between the general ward and full intensive care.

A high dependency unit is an area in a hospital, usually located closely to the intensive care unit, where patients can be cared for more extensively than on a normal ward, but not to the point of intensive care, it is appropriate for patients who have had major surgery and for those with single-organ failure. Many of these units were set up in the 1990s when hospitals found that a proportion of patients was requiring a level of care that could not be delivered in a normal ward setting. This is thought to be associated with a reduction in mortality. Patients may be admitted to an HDU bed because they are at risk of requiring intensive care admission, or as a step-down between intensive care and ward-based care.

In 2000 the UK Department of Health issued the report "Comprehensive Critical Care", which set out the number of high dependency ("level 2") beds a hospital should have to deliver care appropriately. By this time, two thirds of UK hospitals had beds identified as "high dependency". The report defines level 2 care as "more detailed observations or intervention including support for a single failing organ system or postoperative care and those 'stepping down' from higher levels of care".

If positive airway pressure ventilation is used to treat respiratory failure, this may be administered in a high dependency unit or equivalent area.

High Dependency Unit is a psychedelic rock band originating from Dunedin, New Zealand. Forming in 1994, the band was described by BBC DJ and presenter John Peel as "one of the 10 best bands in the world you've never heard of". The band consists of Tristan Dingemans (guitar, vocals), Neil Phillips (guitar, bass) and Constantine Karlis (drums, percussion, synth, samples).

A High Dependency Unit (HDU) is an inpatient psychiatric ward, typically with only a small number of beds, attached to an acute admissions ward. It is intended to provide treatment for patients who cannot be managed safely on an acute (open) ward, but do not meet the threshold for admission to PICU. The number of staff per patient will be higher than the associated acute ward, but may be lower than levels at a PICU.