About Major Trauma
In this section we aim to provide patients, carers and relatives with information that will help guide you through not only the major trauma pathway but also what happens when you leave the hospital and into another hospital, community or primary care setting.
What is Major Trauma?
Patients with major trauma are those with serious, and/or multiple injuries that require 24/7 emergency access to a wide range of clinical services and expertise. For example, doctors may be required to attend to a patient with head and neck injuries, chest, pelvis and other bone fractures. Major traumas can happen as a result of many mechanisms such as:
• Road Traffic Collisions (RTC)
• Leisure activities
• Industrial accidents
• Falls
Access to the right service at the right time is crucial for survival and for making sure recovery is as quick and complete as possible.
• Road Traffic Collisions (RTC)
• Leisure activities
• Industrial accidents
• Falls
Access to the right service at the right time is crucial for survival and for making sure recovery is as quick and complete as possible.
What is Pre-Hospital Care?
Care provided by healthcare professionals / emergency responders who attend the scene of an incident usually by ambulance but sometimes by helicopter (air ambulance), or in a rapid response vehicle (RRV). These professionals assess the patient’s injuries and transfer the patient from the scene of the incident to the most appropriate care facility.
For the majority of patients in Lancashire & South Cumbria, this service is provided by the North-West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS). We also work with North-West Air Ambulance (NWAA) and Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAR).
In order to deliver appropriate triage at the pre-hospital stage and to identify the optimal destination, NWAS has developed a triage tool which is called the ‘Paramedic Pathfinder – Major Trauma in Adults’. All eligible front-line staff members have been trained in the use of the major trauma pathfinder tool. NWAS has also established a 24/7 Trauma Cell. This cell provides support to staff when making decisions about the appropriate destination for patients falling into the major trauma category. It ensures correct resources are dispatched and that receiving trauma centres are fully aware of the patient condition in time for the patient arrival.
For the majority of patients in Lancashire & South Cumbria, this service is provided by the North-West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS). We also work with North-West Air Ambulance (NWAA) and Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAR).
In order to deliver appropriate triage at the pre-hospital stage and to identify the optimal destination, NWAS has developed a triage tool which is called the ‘Paramedic Pathfinder – Major Trauma in Adults’. All eligible front-line staff members have been trained in the use of the major trauma pathfinder tool. NWAS has also established a 24/7 Trauma Cell. This cell provides support to staff when making decisions about the appropriate destination for patients falling into the major trauma category. It ensures correct resources are dispatched and that receiving trauma centres are fully aware of the patient condition in time for the patient arrival.
Whats is a Major Trauma Centre (MTC)?
A Major Trauma Centre is a specialist hospital responsible for the care of the most severely injured patients involved in major trauma. It provides 24/7 emergency access to consultant-delivered care for a wide range of specialist clinical services and expertise. The hospital will have the facilities and specialist services needed to manage complex injuries and recovery. The Major Trauma Centre in Lancashire & South Cumbria is Royal Preston Hospital.
When a patient arrives at the MTC, they will undergo a focused assessment by a specialist trauma team trained to deal with serious injuries. In life-threatening situations, the doctors and nurses from the trauma team will do what is required to save a person's life. If the patient is unable to give consent because they are incapacitated, treatment will still be carried out. In these cases, the reasons why treatment was necessary will be fully explained once the patient has recovered. Local trauma units also provide on-going treatment and rehabilitation for patients and you may be transferred back to your local area for ongoing care once you do not need any more specialist care from the MTC.
When a patient arrives at the MTC, they will undergo a focused assessment by a specialist trauma team trained to deal with serious injuries. In life-threatening situations, the doctors and nurses from the trauma team will do what is required to save a person's life. If the patient is unable to give consent because they are incapacitated, treatment will still be carried out. In these cases, the reasons why treatment was necessary will be fully explained once the patient has recovered. Local trauma units also provide on-going treatment and rehabilitation for patients and you may be transferred back to your local area for ongoing care once you do not need any more specialist care from the MTC.
What is a Trauma Unit (TU)?
A Trauma Unit is a hospital which routinely provides 24/7 trauma care for all except the most severe major trauma patients. Trauma units will also provide immediate resuscitation and/or stabilisation for some major trauma patients before transferring them to the MTC. Trauma Units may also be able to provide some specialist care. You may be taken to a TU if your injuries are less severe and do not require the expertise of the MTC, for example, patients with simple fractures, minor head injuries, lacerations.
You may have suffered a major trauma injury or could be critically ill, but may initially be taken to a Trauma Unit if:
Sometimes, your injuries at the scene of an incident, or your clinical condition does not at the time of assessment indicate the need to go to a MTC and you may be taken to a TU. If the trauma staff at the TU feel the patient needs specialist care at the MTC they will stabilise the patient and arrange a transfer as a priority.
You may have suffered a major trauma injury or could be critically ill, but may initially be taken to a Trauma Unit if:
- It is not possible to get to the major trauma centre within 45 minutes
- When or where the patient needs to be stabilised quickly
Sometimes, your injuries at the scene of an incident, or your clinical condition does not at the time of assessment indicate the need to go to a MTC and you may be taken to a TU. If the trauma staff at the TU feel the patient needs specialist care at the MTC they will stabilise the patient and arrange a transfer as a priority.
Patient and Carer Feedback
Receiving feedback from patients and their carers/family will help us to know what we are doing well and where we may be able to make improvements to the care we provide. We know that all our units will have access to the National Friends and Family Test. We do however, recognise that you may not want to feedback whilst you are in hospital, or you may not have the opportunity. It is always good to know how we are doing, so if you would like to let us know please contact us by clicking on the link below.