New liver ITU building has opened
A hospital corridor with a collection of balloons at the forefront of the image. They are pink, blue and purple.

A refurbished Liver Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU) at King's College Hospital Denmark Hill has opened with the aim of giving a better experience to both patients and staff.

After five weeks of renovation, the specialist unit has been transformed into a bright and spacious area with ceiling displays projecting illuminated blue skies across the corridor.

The 15-bedded unit provides care to some of the hospital’s most seriously unwell patients, with many spending months recovering following specialist liver treatment at King’s, including transplantation.

Changes include to the layout of the unit, which has been carefully thought out to position noisy equipment and busy staff areas away from patient beds to promote a sense of calm.

Patients now also have immediate access to the hospital’s entertainment system, with control of their own TV and easy access to communication with loved ones.

Julie Jose, lead nurse of the Liver ITU said that everything about the unit is "better" after the refurbishment.  

"A lot of planning went into the refurb – which included moving patients into a separate space for over a month – but we’re really pleased.

"All went well thanks to the team’s involvement. It’s making a real difference to the care we provide and the experience of patients,” she said.