Trauma centre could save one life a month

One life a month could be saved in Lincolnshire by new plans for a trauma centre, say NHS bosses.

An average of 12 county patients currently suffer a major trauma each month – usually a serious road crash – out of which three die.

A further six will have long-term injuries and may not be able to work again.

But intensive care consultant for NHS East Midlands, Dr Bob Winter, said a new 'major trauma system' will enable one of these lives to be saved and will leave less people living with disabilities.

The system will see Lincoln County Hospital and Boston's Pilgrim Hospital upgraded to become general trauma centres.

Medics will be trained to deal with major incidents and only those patients needing more specialist care such as neurosurgery or treatment for spinal fractures – will need to travel to a major trauma centre which will either be based in a Nottingham or Leicester hospital.

And the new system, to be implemented within three years, dictates that a seriously injured patient reaches a trauma centre within 45 minutes of injury.

Should a Lincolnshire patient need treatment at a major trauma centre but is more than 45 minutes away, they should be stabilised at Lincoln or Boston before being transferred at the earlier opportunity to the Nottingham or Leicester-based centre.

Dr Winter said it will cost £11m to implement the system which will involve recruiting more paramedics, installing hospital helipads and employing more specialist trauma consultants.

"This is going to cost the health service and save on social care as there will be fewer people needing long term care," he said.

For more detail on the plans, see Friday's Echo.