Major Trauma Network

What is Major Trauma?

Major Trauma refers to serious injury or multiple injuries sustained by patients which could result in disability or death. Injuries may include severe head, chest, abdominal and skeletal injuries sustained as a result of accidents, sport or violence. Major Trauma is recognised as the main cause of death for people under the age of 45 and is a major cause of debilitating long term injuries. More than half of Major Trauma cases are caused by road traffic accidents.

Network History

The NHS Operating Framework for England 2011 – 2012 reiterated a commitment to ensure the implementation of regional Trauma Networks across England,
Lancashire and South Cumbria's Trauma Network was formally established as one of 18 Major Trauma Operational Delivery Networks (MT ODN) in 2013/14.

Our MT ODN includes all providers of trauma care, particularly pre-hospital services, other hospitals receiving acute trauma admissions (Trauma Units) and rehabilitation services. The network also has appropriate links to social care and the voluntary/community sector.

Our Aim

The aim of the MT ODN is to save lives each year of patients who potentially would die unnecessarily without an effective trauma system, and improve the outcome of all other Major Trauma patients within the L&SC region through organised network pathways, team working, and sharing good practice.

We will ensure the best use of resources, making the Major Trauma Centre and Trauma Units more effective by ensuring those who suffer major trauma get the best care possible.

Network Structure

The Major Trauma Network consists of a group of hospitals and other healthcare providers that work together to ensure good outcomes and positive patient experience for patients across the Lancashire and South Cumbria region.

The ODN contains one Major Trauma Centre (MTC) located at Royal Preston Hospital and four Trauma Units (TUs),

The pre-hospital care teams primarily provided by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and the North West Air Ambulance Service (NWAAS) will decide on the best hospital to take a patient to for the appropriate care and intervention requirements; Most Major Trauma patients will go directly to the Major Trauma Centre.

Network Trauma Map

Our Major Trauma Centre (MTC)

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The Major Trauma Centre for Lancashire & South Cumbria is based at Royal Preston Hospital. It is part of the Lancashire & South Cumbria Major Trauma Network and is a specialist centre 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.

Trauma Units (TU's)

Our Trauma Units are located in the hospitals that are part of the Major Trauma Network and provide care for all except the most severe major trauma patients. When it is not possible to get patients to the MTC within 45 minutes, or where the patient needs to be stabilised quickly, the patient is taken to the nearest hospital with a local TU for immediate treatment and stabilisation before being transferred on to the MTC at Preston. Once discharged from the MTC local TUs also provide on-going treatment and rehabilitation for patients.

The Trauma Units are based at Blackpool, Blackburn, Lancaster and Barrow in Furness.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

East Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

University Hospitals of of Morcambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust