This group brings together medical and nursing colleagues from critical care units across Greater Manchester to support the safe transfer of critically ill adults. Moving a critically ill patient between hospitals carries recognised risks, which can be reduced through careful planning, structured communication, appropriately trained staff and access to suitable, compatible equipment. The group supports units to review and apply national transfer standards locally, share learning and improve consistency across the Greater Manchester Critical Care Network. It also reviews transfer activity and documentation to identify common risks, assurance gaps and opportunities for improvement.

Current workstreams

Current workstreams focus on safer transfer documentation, equipment compatibility, education, incident learning and monitoring transfer activity across Greater Manchester. The group has updated the network transfer form to make key safety information and the handover check easier to identify and complete. Feedback from transfer form reviews is used to highlight recurring themes, including incomplete risk assessments, missing airway information and gaps in documented handover, while learning from equipment-related incidents supports safer preparation and escalation across units.

Local audit is central to this work. All units are encouraged to audit their own completed transfer forms before returning the yellow copy to the Network. Reviewing documentation locally allows teams to provide timely feedback to staff, recognise good practice and identify areas for targeted education or process improvement. Units are also encouraged to share their findings through the RiCON Transfer Group so that learning can inform wider improvement across the Network.

On this page you will find

• Transfer of the Critically Ill Adult within the Greater Manchester Critical Care Network (2024)
• Inter-Hospital Transfer of the Critically Ill Adult with Acute Brain Injury in Greater Manchester Guideline (2024)
• GM Network Inter-hospital checklist (2024)
• GM Network Intra-hospital transfer form
• Information leaflet for relatives explaining reasons for transfer
• Critical Care Handover for a Inter-Hospital Transferred Patient
• Web link to SCITT e Learning
• Web link to critical care transfer training videos
• ICS Guidance On: The Transfer Of The Critically Ill Adult 5th Edition
• ICS EMERGENCY ACTION CARDS: A Supplementary resource of 5th Edition, Transfer of the Critically Ill Adult
• Guidance On: Transfer Of The Critically Ill Maternity Patient
• GM Audit Transfer Tool (for local audit)

Inter-Hospital Transfer Forms
Inter-hospital transfer forms are available through the Greater Manchester Critical Care Network. You can request forms via practice-based educators, or if you are a student on the Critical Care programme, you may collect them directly from the Critical Care Skills Institute.
All transfer forms undergo regular local and network audits. They are reviewed by the Transfer Group to ensure they remain fully compliant with current national guidance.
When transferring a patient, please ensure that the transfer form is completed in its entirety. This documentation forms a vital part of the patient’s medical record.

After the local audit of inter-hospital transfer forms is complete, please send the yellow copy to the Critical Care Network Team at Regus, Manchester Business Park, Aviator Way, Manchester, M22 5TG.
The white copy should be retained as part of the patient’s medical records.

Next meeting date:  Monday 27th April 2026 @13:00 via MS teams

Safe Critically Ill Transfer Training (SCITT)

This is a joint development by the three North West Critical Care networks (Greater Manchester, Cheshire & Mersey, Lancashire & South Cumbria) to improve the theory, knowledge and practical skills of clinical staff who undertake patient transfers. It has been endorsed the the North West Deanery  and focuses on raising awareness of current transfer guidance, risk management before & during transfer, management of the transfer and includes human factors and situational awareness. The aim is to ensure that during transfer, critical care is  delivered to high standards and any situations are anticipated, identified and managed accordingly.

SCITT is aimed at all registered nurses working in the Critical Care environment & trainee medical staff. Staff from the emergency department and theatre staff who may be involved in patient transfers will also find this course useful.

There are 3 parts to the course; the e Learning module which must be completed first, attendance at a clinical simulation course  (this may be run locally by your Trust) and finally the maintenance of a log book detailing your clinical experience of patient transfers