ICS Cast

Recorded at the ICS State of the Art 2025 meeting in Birmingham, Jonny sits down with two of the UK's leading voices in deceased organ donation: Professor Dan Harvey and Dr Ben Ivory. This is the conversation every intensivist has to get right, and the one most of us still feel underprepared for. Dan and Ben walk through how we counsel families at the end of life, how we keep the donation conversation compassionate rather than confrontational, and how we handle the controversies that still sit just under the surface of UK practice. They talk about what good documentation actually looks like when the notes are later read by a family, a coroner or a complaint investigator; who to pull into the room early; SNODs, CLODs, chaplaincy, senior colleagues and how that support changes both the quality of the conversation and the risk of things going wrong afterwards. Practical, honest and grounded in the realities of the UK pathway - essential listening for us all!

Jonny Wilkinson talks with Prof. Hugh Montgomery and Kate Tantam, about the challenges and opportunities in NHS infrastructure, climate change, green spaces in hospitals, and sustainable practices to improve healthcare environments and patient outcomes.

Step into the high-stakes world of cardiogenic shock in this powerful episode recorded on Day 1 of the ICS State of the Art 2025 meeting in Birmingham. In the session "From Shock to Survival: Innovations and Advances in Cardiogenic Shock Treatment", Jonny sits down with three outstanding guests: Professor Susanna Price, consultant cardiologist and intensivist at Royal Brompton Hospital and a leading expert in cardiogenic shock; Dr Nicholas Barrett from Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, who brought deep expertise in advanced cardiac support and critical care; and the truly inspirational Lizzi Jordan MBE, Paralympic gold medal cyclist and remarkable survivor of life-threatening sepsis and cardiogenic shock. Susanna and Nicholas shared cutting-edge clinical insights on recognition, haemodynamics, mechanical support, and the latest innovations in treatment, while Lizzi delivered a raw, moving account of multiple organ failure, induced coma, and her incredible fight back to elite sporting success despite losing her sight. This conversation perfectly blends world-class medical expertise with an extraordinary patient perspective — emotional, practical, hopeful, and deeply human - an unmissable session from SOA25.

Get ready for a high-octane deep dive into the world of venous congestion and POCUS in this dynamic episode from the ICS State of the Art 2025 meeting in Birmingham. Jonny was joined by the brilliant trio of Dr Ross Prager, Dr Sekina Bakare, and Dr Segun Olusanya for a candid and entertaining discussion on mastering ultrasound in critical care. We explore how deep you really need to go to achieve accreditation, why POCUS training can feel like stepping into a Mixed Martial Arts ring, and the practical realities of integrating these skills into daily practice. Ross breaks down the crucial role of the liver and right heart in venous congestion assessment, while Sekina shares insightful reflections on the transition from resident to consultant. Packed with practical wisdom, training pathway realities, and plenty of relatable moments, this conversation is essential listening for anyone looking to level up their bedside ultrasound game.

Ever wondered what it really takes to pull off the UK's biggest critical care conference? In this behind-the-scenes episode, I sit down with the legend himself — Dr Parjam (PJ) Zolfaghari, past Programme Director of the ICS State of the Art 2025 meeting in Birmingham. From sleepless nights and last-minute speaker dropouts to epic programme clashes, heated controversies, and the sheer chaos of herding hundreds of intensivists into one unforgettable event, PJ spills all the gory (and hilarious) details. We dive into the triumphs, the near-disasters, and the sheer madness of creating a meeting that's still delivering incredible podcast content months later! If you've ever organised anything big — or just love a good war story from the trenches of medical conference planning — this one is packed with laughs, lessons, and proper insight. Pure gold for anyone curious about what goes on behind the curtain of #SOA25.