• Adult emergency services
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular
• Commissioning support
• COPD
• Children and young people
• Dementia
• Diabetes
• Disabled children
• End of life care
• Immunisations and vaccinations
• Local hospitals
• London and South East England specialised burns project
• Major trauma
  • Case for change
  • Engagement
  • FAQs
  • Publications
• Maternity
• Medically unexplained symptoms
• Mental health
• Paediatric emergency services
• Polysystems
• Quality and Safety Programme
• Staying healthy
• Stroke
• Tuberculosis
• Unscheduled care

Engagement

The major trauma project was led by Professor Matt Thompson, a vascular surgeon from St George’s Healthcare Trust. He sat on the Clinical Advisory Group which oversaw all Healthcare for London projects, and was the Chair of the Major Trauma Clinical Expert Panel.

64% of people who responded to Consulting the Capital supported plans to create more specialised major trauma centres.

“There is no doubt that these new trauma networks will save lives and shorten recovery times. Currently London has one of the worst trauma services in Europe – but within quite a short space of time, we could have one of the best.” Professor Matt Thompson

“Specialist care will enable faster uptake of treatment and better standards of care for patients.” The London Health Forum

“We endorse the recommendations on the further centralisation of complex trauma and stroke.” St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust

“Timely intervention by the right people counts – not how quickly you can get inside the doors of your local A&E.” Public consultation event participant

“Technology advances are driving more centralisation of specialist services. The most complex cases require a range of diagnostic equipment – Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners, gamma cameras and even new methods such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanners which can detect illness at a much earlier stage. To do this means locating hi-tech equipment in centres of expertise where trained staff can utilise it, and where there are enough cases to justify the technology’s cost.” Lord Darzi, Healthcare for London: A Framework for Action

Clinical expert panel

The major trauma clinical expert panel comprised clinicians from a variety of specialties that deliver major trauma care, as well as external stakeholders such as the London Ambulance Service.

Patient panel

The major trauma patient panel provided advice to the project. Members included trauma patients, carers and support groups such as the Spinal Injuries Association, Headway and the British Institute for Brain Injured Children.

Pan-London stakeholder event

International experts in trauma care have also contributed to the project. The major trauma project held a one day conference in April 2008 for a wide audience of stakeholders to examine the current state of trauma care delivery in London and suggest potential models for a London-wide trauma system.

Jan Luitse, Head of the Trauma Unit in Amsterdam gave a talk on the set up of a nationwide trauma system and the delivery of trauma care in Holland. Karim Brohi, the Trauma and Emergency Tutor from the Royal College of Surgeons, gave a presentation on trauma care systems in the USA.

The event was attended by over 100 people, including clinicians involved in delivering major trauma care, senior managers, commissioners and representatives of areas bordering London.