Improving Trauma Care Across the West Midlands Public Engagement
We would like your views on the proposed options in delivering an improved trauma system and how you feel about these plans. Please see below to find out more about major trauma, the four options, and how you can share your views.
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.
Common causes of Major Trauma are:
- Road traffic accidents, sporting injuries or falls from heights such as scaffolding or ladders.
- Complex injuries which often require specialist skills or services not available in all hospitals i.e. neurosurgery and cardiac services.
The creation of new trauma care networks, the working partnership between the hospitals in the West Midlands region which will deliver the regional Trauma Care Services, will help patients by increasing survival rates, shortening recovery times and reducing disability from injury.
As part of the review four options have been 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. Birmingham Children’s Hospital will be the centre for the management of major paediatric trauma in the West Midlands; as such it will have a major role to play in the coordination of paediatric trauma care across the region.
As a result of the review, Options 1 is being proposed at the preferred option.
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.
For the people of Staffordshire, Staffordshire Cluster of PCTs (NHS Stoke on Trent, NHS North Staffordshire & South Staffordshire PCT) would like your views on the proposed options in delivering an improved trauma system and how you feel about these plans.
You can complete an online survey at http://www.keysurvey.com/survey/393743/2977/ or you can request an information pack by emailing: katie.harper@northstaffs.nhs.uk or by calling: 0300 7900 233 ext 3457.
You can also participate in the Trauma Care Implementation Planning Day on Monday 19th December from 9:00 – 16:00 at Birmingham City Football Club, St Andrews Stadium, Birmingham, B9 4RL. The aim of the day is to look at the West Midlands Trauma Care System and identify how trauma care will be delivered through the three trauma care networks. This event will be of interest to patient groups and patient representatives as well as providers of trauma care, specialist rehabilitation services and other key stakeholders including the ambulance service, major trauma centres, trauma units, local emergency hospitals, commissioners, LINks and health overview and scrutiny committees.
To register please complete a registration form and email to stacey.hendrick@westmidlands.nhs.uk or post to: Stacey Hendrick, WMSCT, 3rd Floor, King's House, 127 Hagley Road, Birmingham B16 8LD
If you would like to find out more about this review visit www.wmsc.nhs.uk
More information is available in the “Improving Trauma Care in the West Midlands – What this means for Staffordshire Information Pack” available below.
Also available below is a Frequently Asked Questions on the Development of a West Midlands’ Trauma Care System.
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