Time to first review of new admissions to critical care by the consultant intensivist

The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) recommends that all new admissions to the ICU should be reviewed by a consultant intensivist within 12 hours [1]. This early review may reduce the ICU length of stay (LOS), but does not appear to affect mortality [2]. Patient severity of illness (APACHE II scores) may also influence patient outcome.