Specialist training in major trauma set to save more lives in the region

A new approach that will help save the lives of patients suffering from major trauma will see staff at Scarborough and York Hospitals become some of the first in Yorkshire to access new training in trauma care.

The North Yorkshire and Humberside Major Trauma Network has launched an instructor training course which will train staff to deliver vital trauma care training within their organisations.

Major Trauma Networks enable the rapid and safe transfer of patients to selected Major Trauma Centres throughout the country. The networks were developed to ensure that patients receive the best possible care from the scene of the accident through to their rehabilitation at home.

The latest training, hosted recently at Scarborough Hospital, is the first of its kind in the region and is fast becoming the entry level trauma qualification across the country.

Dr Phil Dickinson, Scarborough Hospital’s Consultant for Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, is lead clinician for North Yorkshire and Humberside Major Trauma Network and has been at the forefront in bringing this pioneering initiative to the region.

Dr Dickinson said: “Major trauma is the leading cause of death for adults under 40 years of age in the UK. Over a number of years the level of care in England for these patients has been shown to be in need of improvement.

“The National Audit Office report estimated that there are 20,000 cases of major trauma per year in England and 5,400 people die of their injuries with many others sustaining permanent disability. Many of these deaths could be prevented with systematic improvements to the delivery of major trauma care.

“This is an exciting new development for York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and for trauma care in the region. We have trained 33 instructor candidates from across eight hospitals and two ambulance services to become qualified instructors. The aim is that within two years we will have trained 90 percent of our trauma teams in the region in these specialist skills."

27 November 2015