Trauma patients 'not treated properly'

More than half of all trauma patients treated in British hospital do not receive good care, a report has found.

The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) said significant improvements must be made in both organisational and clinical aspects of care for patients severely injured in events such as road accidents.

It found many of the drawbacks in clinical care related to a lack of seniority and inexperience of staff involved in the immediate management of trauma patients.

Medical staff often fail to appreciate the severity of illness, display little urgency in caring for patients, and make incorrect clinical decisions.

NCEPOD clinical co-ordinator Dr George Findlay said: "Our study shows a picture of current trauma care provision.

"We found that the organisation of pre-hospital care, the trauma team response, seniority of staff involvement and immediate in-hospital care was deficient in the majority of cases."

He continued: "The number of patients seen has a direct bearing on the experience and ability of clinicians to manage challenging cases.

"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.

"For example, we need protocols for ambulance crews to bypass the nearest hospital if this is not the most appropriate hospital to give the best care to the particular patient."

Chairman of the BMA consultants' committee, Dr Jonathan Fielden, said the report demonstrated how consultant expansion was vital to improve patient care.

He added: "Managing the care of trauma patients can be very complex and it is extremely important to work as a multi-disciplinary team, based on care from the consultant, the most senior experienced clinician.

"The BMA fully backs NCEPOD's recommendation that a consultant should be the team leader in managing the care of severely injured patients.

"The problem is that the NHS still does not have enough consultants and patients are suffering as a result.

"We know that patients' chances of survival are best achieved by consultant-based care.

"This is the gold standard of quality care which the government needs to realise is what the NHS and patients need."

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