Trauma Care
Improving trauma care across the West
Midlands
The NHS in the West Midlands is proposing to transform the care
people receive when they suffer major trauma by introducing an
improved system of care across the region.
Major trauma is defined as serious injuries which are
immediately life threatening such as major head or spinal injuries,
amputations, multiple injuries, and severe knife or gunshot wounds.
The creation of new trauma care networks will help patients by
increasing survival rates, shortening recovery times and reducing
disability from injury.
As part of the review four options are being considered.
These are:
- Three major trauma centres - at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in
Birmingham, the University Hospital of North Staffordshire and
University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire.
- Two major trauma centres - one at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
in Birmingham and one at the University Hospital of North
Staffordshire.
- Two major trauma centres - one at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
in Birmingham and one at the University Hospital Coventry and
Warwickshire.
- One major trauma centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in
Birmingham
In addition, the Birmingham Children's Hospital would be the
West Midlands' Major Trauma Centre for Children.
Evidence shows that when patients are treated in a trauma
network, with a specialist centre responsible for treating major
trauma cases, patients' survival rates could improve by up to 20%
saving another 45 - 60 lives every year. This is because
major trauma centres have the specialist staff, equipment and
technology on one site to treat these serious and/or life
threatening injuries. In addition we know that the severity
of disability is reduced with patients making a much speedier
recovery and able to live more independently following their
recovery.
By developing a region-wide trauma care system we can ensure
that everyone in the West Midlands has access to the same high
quality trauma care services.
If you would like to find out more about this review visit www.wmsc.nhs.uk or email: info@wmsc.nhs.uk
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Additonal information
Last updated on 25 April 2012