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| Half of trauma care 'not good' | Half of trauma care 'not good' |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| More than half of trauma patients are not receiving good care, experts say. | More than half of trauma patients are not receiving good care, experts say. |
| The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death looked at the care given to 795 patients, many with head injuries from falls and crashes. | The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death looked at the care given to 795 patients, many with head injuries from falls and crashes. |
| It found medical staff in 200 hospitals in England, Wales and Northern Ireland often did not appreciate the severity and displayed little urgency. | It found medical staff in 200 hospitals in England, Wales and Northern Ireland often did not appreciate the severity and displayed little urgency. |
| It said care would improve if services were centred at fewer sites - something which is already government policy. | It said care would improve if services were centred at fewer sites - something which is already government policy. |
| NCEPOD said many of the problems identified in nearly 60% of patients treated across 200 hospitals were associated with staff being too inexperienced. | NCEPOD said many of the problems identified in nearly 60% of patients treated across 200 hospitals were associated with staff being too inexperienced. |
| Our mortality rates are among the worst in the developed world, and yet trauma care remains a low priority for the government Royal College of Surgeons spokesman 'They just diagnosed a broken arm' | Our mortality rates are among the worst in the developed world, and yet trauma care remains a low priority for the government Royal College of Surgeons spokesman 'They just diagnosed a broken arm' |
| In particular, they found patients were not always given essential tests such as CT scans or assessed by hospital consultants, especially during the night. | In particular, they found patients were not always given essential tests such as CT scans or assessed by hospital consultants, especially during the night. |
| Researchers said most hospitals would only deal with one trauma patient a week and this meant staff did not get the necessary experience to keep skills up to date. | Researchers said most hospitals would only deal with one trauma patient a week and this meant staff did not get the necessary experience to keep skills up to date. |
| They also said about 800 trauma patients each year needed to be transferred to other hospitals - often in an "ad hoc" manner - because of a lack of specialist facilities such as neurological services. | They also said about 800 trauma patients each year needed to be transferred to other hospitals - often in an "ad hoc" manner - because of a lack of specialist facilities such as neurological services. |
| Ambulance crews were also criticised for failing to always unblock airways and alert hospitals of incoming cases. | Ambulance crews were also criticised for failing to always unblock airways and alert hospitals of incoming cases. |
| But the researchers said in hospitals which dealt with more than 20 cases a week the care was classed as good. | But the researchers said in hospitals which dealt with more than 20 cases a week the care was classed as good. |
| The report said this in itself was a good argument for centralising services in regional centres. | The report said this in itself was a good argument for centralising services in regional centres. |
| Services | Services |
| This is already a government policy, but it is proving controversial because of the aim of a whole host of other services such as maternity and A&E being centralised as well. | This is already a government policy, but it is proving controversial because of the aim of a whole host of other services such as maternity and A&E being centralised as well. |
| Campaigners say such a move would lead to many local hospitals being stripped of key services. | Campaigners say such a move would lead to many local hospitals being stripped of key services. |
| Report author Dr George Findlay said: "The number of patients seen has a direct bearing on the experience and ability of clinicians to manage challenging cases. | Report author Dr George Findlay said: "The number of patients seen has a direct bearing on the experience and ability of clinicians to manage challenging cases. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY There's no point having a fantastic "regional site" if most of the people who really need A&E would expire in the ambulance while travelling for 30 minutes or more to get to it Mary, Midlands class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3843&edition=1">Send us your comments "It is not possible for all hospitals to have a trauma team on call with the necessary experience, organisation and support structures. | |
| "We need to look at how we can organise trauma care on a regional basis." | "We need to look at how we can organise trauma care on a regional basis." |
| The Royal College of Surgeons said care urgently needed to improve. | The Royal College of Surgeons said care urgently needed to improve. |
| A spokesman said: "Our mortality rates are among the worst in the developed world, and yet trauma care remains a low priority for the government. | A spokesman said: "Our mortality rates are among the worst in the developed world, and yet trauma care remains a low priority for the government. |
| "This a national health service and what we need is a national trauma system." | "This a national health service and what we need is a national trauma system." |
| Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "We have argued for some time that it is not the proximity of the nearest A&E that matters to most trauma victims but the care they receive from ambulance and paramedic staff and the quality of care they receive once they arrive at hospital. | Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "We have argued for some time that it is not the proximity of the nearest A&E that matters to most trauma victims but the care they receive from ambulance and paramedic staff and the quality of care they receive once they arrive at hospital. |
| "Concentrating trauma treatment in specialist centres can arouse opposition from some people concerned about 'downgrading' of their local A&E facilities, but what the opponents often fail to recognise is that lives will be saved and the quality of care improved, as this report makes clear." | "Concentrating trauma treatment in specialist centres can arouse opposition from some people concerned about 'downgrading' of their local A&E facilities, but what the opponents often fail to recognise is that lives will be saved and the quality of care improved, as this report makes clear." |