We provide acute neurosurgical services for all of East Anglia and adjacent parts of other counties, with a total catchment population of around 2.3 million people.
Current visiting policy
Restricted visiting will be permitted on most wards and areas such as our Emergency Department. Please follow our guidance to find our more information as some areas do still have restrictions.
NCCU is a 27-bedded neuro intensive care unit and cares for patients with acute brain injury, regardless of the underlying cause. It also cares for those who experience major trauma, up to 800 people every year receive major traumatic injuries in this region – in a car crash, for example.
CUH Directions mobile app
The CUH Directions mobile app is for patients and visitors.
It helps you to find your way around Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals, making it easier to locate clinics, wards and other facilities on our campus.
Ward routine (these are approximate times only)
07:30 to 08:00 - Nursing handover, you will be asked to leave the bedside during this time.
08:00 to 09:00 - The doctors caring for your relative meet to discuss their condition and treatment plan.
09.00 to 11.00 - Morning ward round – The doctor caring for your relative will perform an assessment and order any tests and investigations that may be required. The physiotherapist may treat your relative and review them for further physiotherapy needs for the day.
11:00 onwards - Daily ward rounds begins
17:00 onwards - Evening ward round begins
19:30 to 20:00 - Nursing Handover
Providing care
Clinical activities are coordinated by our intensive care consultants, who share responsibility for the management of patients with admitting multiple speciality consultants. Major clinical input is provided by the Departments of Neuroradiology and Neurophysiology.
Our team is completed by specialist nurses, scientists, physiotherapists, dietitians and pharmacists.
Major trauma pathway
Neurosciences Critical Care Unit (NCCU) is part of the major trauma pathway. The East of England Major Trauma Centre (MTC) serves one of the largest trauma networks in England with a population of 6.1 million residents and 12 acute hospital trauma units spread over 7,380 square miles.
Research
We provide the infrastructure for a comprehensive programme of clinical research. This aims to identify and influence new treatments in patients with acute brain injury.
A major part of this research involves the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, which provides research into acute brain injury, the scanning facilities for positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cambridge University Hospital's is the only centre in the world with such facilities.
The unit also has close links with the Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair on the Addenbrooke's site.
The synergy provided by clinical research working alongside patient care means that management protocols based on research can result in substantial and significant improvements in the outcome of brain injury and disease.