A major trauma centre (MTC) is a specialist unit within the National Health Service of the United Kingdom, set up to provide specialised trauma care and rehabilitation. They are usually found within larger hospitals in major cities which have the necessary infrastructure and staff to deal with major trauma cases.
: Hospitals Serving Both Adults and Children
: Hospitals Serving Adults Only
: Hospitals Serving Children OnlyMTCs provide emergency access to life and limb saving consultant-led care in a wide range of specialisms including anaesthetics, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, geriatrics, and emergency medicine. All MTCs have an on-site CT scanner and emergency operating theatres on standby to perform immediate, life-saving surgery.[1] All MTCs also provide consultant-led rehabilitation care, to optimise recovery at the earliest opportunity.
Major trauma is described as life-altering injury with risk of death or disability.[1]
The first major trauma centre opened in England in 2012, with Scotland following in 2018, and in the same year plans were announced for the first MTC in Wales.[2]
England
editThere are 27 major trauma centres within NHS England, in three categories: adult and children; adult only; and children only.[3] At first a small number of pilot sites were trialled. All major trauma centres in England operate within local trauma networks, ensuring patients are treated at the most appropriate place for their injuries, but returning to care closer to home when able.
The first MTCs opened in April 2012.[4]
Scotland
editThe Scottish Trauma Network operates four major trauma centres within NHS Scotland.[5] The first was designated at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on 1 October 2018.[6]
| Adult | Children only |
|---|---|
| Aberdeen Royal Infirmary | Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital (Paediatric) |
| Ninewells Hospital, Dundee | |
| Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow | Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow (Paediatric) |
| Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh | Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh (Paediatric) |
Wales
edit| Major trauma centre of Wales |
|---|
| University Hospital of Wales (Cardiff) |
Northern Ireland
edit| Major trauma centre of Northern Ireland |
|---|
| Royal Victoria Hospital (Belfast) |
References
edit- ^ a b "Major Trauma Centre: Questions and Answers". Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "Cardiff major trauma centre to go ahead". BBC News. BBC. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
- ^ "Major Trauma Centres in England" (PDF). NHS. October 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "Regionalisation of trauma care in England". Bone & Joint Journal. 1 September 2016. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.98B9.37525.
- ^ "Map". Scottish Trauma Network. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ "First of new major trauma centres opens in Aberdeen". BBC News. 1 October 2018.