NCEPOD: Trauma - Who Cares? - London Health Programmes

Principal recommendationsOrganisational dataThere is a need for designated Level 1 trauma centresand a verifi cation process needs to be developedto quality assure the delivery of trauma care (as hasbeen developed in the USA by the American Collegeof Surgeons). (Royal College of Surgeons of England,College of Emergency Medicine)Prehospital careAll agencies involved in trauma management, includingemergency medical services, should be integrated intothe clinical governance programmes of a regional traumaservice. (All healthcare providers)Airway management in trauma patients is oftenchallenging. The prehospital response for these patientsshould include someone with the skill to secure theairway, (including the use of rapid sequence intubation),and maintain adequate ventilation. (Ambulance andhospital trusts)Hospital receptionTrusts should ensure that a trauma team is available 24hours a day, seven days a week. This is an essential partof an organised trauma response system. (Hospital trusts)A consultant must be the team leader for the managementof the severely injured patient. There should be no reasonfor this not to happen during the normal working week.Trusts and consultants should work together to providejob plans that will lead to better consultant presence in theemergency department at all times to provide more uniformconsultant leadership for all severely injured patients.(Hospital trusts and clinical directors)12