Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU)

Last updated: Friday 27 June 2025

General introduction

The Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU), sometimes referred to as enhanced recovery, is a four-bed bay, with use of a cubicle next to PACU on the main ward at the Captain Sir Tom Moore (CSTM) Building at Halton.

The PACU is designed for patient stays between six to 48 hours depending on patient needs and type of surgery.

Visiting times

Find out the visiting times for all wards.

How to access this service

Patients are referred at the pre-operative assessment process, if the anaesthetist on the day feels the patient would benefit from enhanced recovery and / or if there is a requirement post operatively.

About the team

The nursing team consists of highly skilled critical care and theatre nurses, a ward manager, matron, lead nurse, and associate chief nurse.

The ward manager is present Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. The matron and lead nurse can be contacted and visit the department if required.

Lead Nurse - Lucy Parry
Matron - Rachael Baxter
Ward Manager / Senior Sister - Claire Grice

Useful information

You will arrive at the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU) after your operation and post-operative recovery time. You will be greeted by one of our enhanced recovery nurses and you will have monitoring attached by the PACU nurse, to record your observations.

Sometimes further monitoring may be necessary, but this will usually be explained by the anaesthetist prior to the operation or otherwise it will be explained by the PACU team You will be monitored continuously whilst in PACU and the nurse will provide treatment for any pain or sickness if you experience these symptoms.