Who Attends a Crash Call in Hospital? | Skillfull Scrubs
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Who Attends a Crash Call in Hospital?
The roles, responsibilities, uniforms and real cost of a hospital cardiac arrest response team.
- What is a crash call?
- Who attends and what they wear
- Each team member's role and responsibility
- The estimated cost of a single crash call
What Is a Crash Call?
A crash call, also known as a cardiac arrest call or 2222 call in NHS hospitals, is an emergency alert activated when a patient suffers a cardiac arrest or life threatening deterioration that requires an immediate, coordinated response.
When the crash call goes out, a pre designated team drops whatever they are doing and responds immediately. Every second counts. For every minute that passes without CPR or defibrillation, the chance of survival falls by roughly 10%.
In NHS hospitals, a crash call is activated by dialling 2222. The switchboard then alerts the crash team via bleep or tannoy. Response times are monitored and teams are expected to arrive within minutes of the call going out.
Who Attends a Crash Call?
The crash team composition varies slightly between NHS trusts but the core team is fairly consistent across the country. Here is who you will typically see arriving at a crash call and what they are wearing.
Usually a registrar or senior house officer from medicine . Leads the resuscitation attempt, directs the team, makes clinical decisions, and coordinates drug administration and rhythm analysis. The team leader role is typically taken by the most senior clinician present.
Responsible for managing and securing the airway. Will intubate the patient if required, bag-mask ventilate during CPR, and advise on drug doses. Often the most experienced clinician on scene in terms of airway and cardiac arrest management.
A registered nurse or Allied Healthcare Practitioner trained in advanced life support. Assists with CPR, draws up and administers drugs, manages IV access, and records the timeline of events. Often the first trained responder to arrive as they may be closer to the patient. The Resus members are usually part of the resuscitation education team.
The ward nurses who discovered or were with the patient when they arrested will already be present. They begin CPR immediately, alert the team, and provide crucial information about the patient's history, medications and what happened leading up to the arrest.
Where available, an ODP will assist the anaesthetist with airway equipment, drug preparation and ventilation. Highly skilled in emergency airway management and resuscitation drugs. Often part of the crash team in hospitals with a strong theatre department.
Assists with venous access, blood samples and running errands for equipment. Supports the registered nurses and keeps the area clear of non-essential personnel. In some trusts a healthcare assistant trained in basic life support will also perform CPR rotations.
Junior doctors may hold the crash bleep as part of their training. They assist with CPR rotations, documentation, fetching equipment and supporting the team under supervision. A valuable learning experience and a genuine contribution to the response.
Scrub colours vary between NHS trusts. Some hospitals use a nationally standardised colour coding system while others use their own. If you are unsure what a team member's uniform colour means at your trust, check your local uniform policy.
What Does a Crash Call Actually Cost?
A crash call mobilises a large number of highly trained staff and considerable equipment in a very short space of time. The financial cost to the NHS is significant and rarely discussed. The figures below are estimates based on NHS pay bands, average response durations and standard consumable costs.
| Cost Item | Detail | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Crash Team Doctor | Registrar grade, approx 45 mins including response and handover | Β£55 |
| Anaesthetist | Consultant or registrar grade, approx 30 to 45 mins | Β£65 |
| Crash Nurse (x2) | Band 6 or 7, approx 45 mins each | Β£50 |
| Ward Nurses (x2) | Band 5, approx 1 hour diverted from ward duties | Β£40 |
| ODP | Band 5 or 6, approx 30 mins | Β£20 |
| Healthcare Assistant | Band 3, approx 45 mins | Β£12 |
| Drugs and Consumables | Adrenaline, amiodarone, IV fluids, syringes, gloves, airways, ETT | Β£80 |
| Defibrillator Use and Maintenance | Pads, electrode gel, prorated servicing cost per use | Β£30 |
| Ward Disruption | Reduced staffing on ward during response, estimated productivity loss | Β£60 |
| Post-Arrest Care (immediate) | ITU or HDU transfer, monitoring setup, blood tests | Β£200 |
| Estimated Total Cost Per Crash Call | Β£600+ | |
Figures are estimates based on NHS Agenda for Change pay scales and published consumable costs. Actual costs vary significantly depending on duration, outcome and trust. A prolonged resuscitation or post-arrest ITU stay will increase costs considerably.
These figures cover the immediate response only. If the patient survives and requires ITU admission, the daily cost of critical care in the NHS averages over Β£1,800 per day. Crash calls are a stark reminder of why early recognition of deterioration through tools like NEWS2 is so important.
What This Means for Healthcare Workers
From the consultant to the healthcare assistant, every person at a crash call has a defined job. Knowing yours before it happens makes the whole team more effective.
ILS and ALS certification is essential for anyone likely to be first on scene. Keep your resuscitation training up to date.
Most in-hospital cardiac arrests are preceded by hours of physiological deterioration. Using NEWS2 and escalating early can prevent a crash call from being needed at all.
At a crash call, clear and confident communication saves lives. Closed-loop communication and a calm team leader make a measurable difference to outcomes.
Designed by an NHS ODP for healthcare workers across every specialty.