ABSTRACT
Anaesthetists often find themselves transferring patients both within the hospital and between hospitals. These patients are often very sick, the vast majority are intubated and ventilated and they are usually being moved to more specialised areas for expert care such as neurosurgery or paediatrics. The decision to transfer must be based on the need for specific clinical intervention versus the risks of the associated transfer. When the decision is made to transfer a patient between hospitals, several important handovers must occur. The close observation and monitoring of an anaesthetised patient is vital and this is made even more apparent on a transfer. Patients should receive the same standard of physiological monitoring during transfer as if they were still on an intensive care unit. Most emergency departments, critical care units and theatres have pre-packaged transfer bags complete with all the kit required for a transfer.
