Major Trauma
Who are the Major Trauma Network
The Major Trauma Network was formed in 2013 along with 20 other trauma networks in England and it merged with the critical care network in 2019. The purpose of the Networks was to improve the outcomes from major trauma. Several national reports had demonstrated that outcomes could be improved and had made recommendations about how this could be achieved. The structure, function and service specification for the networks were based on successful systems elsewhere and the pilot networks in the UK. In Lancashire and South Cumbria we work collaboratively with all our members to ensure trauma patients receive safe, high-quality care. We do this through the delivery of effective and safe patient pathways so that patients within Lancashire & South Cumbria can access expert care for their injuries in the right place.
Good trauma care depends on identifying the seriousness of injury as quickly as possible, ideally at the scene and then getting the patient to the most appropriate healthcare setting quickly and safely and having expert trauma teams ready and waiting to receive the patient when they arrive at hospital. It is the Network's role to support the delivery of these services.
All NHS hospitals and pre-hospital services in Lancashire & South Cumbria who provide trauma care are members of the Network. Because major trauma is relatively uncommon, and not all hospitals provide the full range of specialist services required of good trauma care, the Department of Health established regional major trauma systems across the country to better organise trauma care. Hospitals provide a different function depending on the services they have on site – there is one adult major trauma centre (MTC) at Royal Preston Hospital, and four major trauma units (TUs) at Furness General Hospital, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Royal Blackburn Hospital and Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
Good trauma care depends on identifying the seriousness of injury as quickly as possible, ideally at the scene and then getting the patient to the most appropriate healthcare setting quickly and safely and having expert trauma teams ready and waiting to receive the patient when they arrive at hospital. It is the Network's role to support the delivery of these services.
All NHS hospitals and pre-hospital services in Lancashire & South Cumbria who provide trauma care are members of the Network. Because major trauma is relatively uncommon, and not all hospitals provide the full range of specialist services required of good trauma care, the Department of Health established regional major trauma systems across the country to better organise trauma care. Hospitals provide a different function depending on the services they have on site – there is one adult major trauma centre (MTC) at Royal Preston Hospital, and four major trauma units (TUs) at Furness General Hospital, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Royal Blackburn Hospital and Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
Children’s major trauma services (15 years and under) are managed by the North-West Children's Major Trauma Network with whom we work closely. All our hospitals will provide trauma care for children, however if specialist care is needed, we and may arrange to transfer children to the Children’s Hospitals in Greater Manchester (Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital) or Cheshire& Mersey (Alder Hey Children’s Hospital). Please click below to access their site for further information.
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