Latest news from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
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A decade of saving lives
When the East Midlands Major Trauma Centre opened at the QMC 10 years ago, a journalist asked: could the hospital cope with all the extra work?
Fast-forward to 2022 and the answer is a resounding yes. More than 17,600 patients have been admitted to the centre since it opened in 2012: thanks to the extraordinary skills and expertise of the team many patients are still alive today.
With a catchment area of 4.5m people, Nottingham is the busiest in the country and has the strongest clinical outcomes nationally. It is part of a national network of specialist centres which concentrate expertise and resources to give the best possible care, including intensive care and brain surgery.
Plans for the Major Trauma Centre had been in the pipeline for some time before they were publically announced in 2009.
When it first opened, ambulance crews were trained to bring the most seriously-injured patients by land or by air to the centre rather than to their local Emergency Department. Around 20% more lives can be saved if a patient is taken to a Major Trauma Centre rather than their nearest hospital, and chances of disability are reduced.
With serious car crashes, life-threatening illnesses, stabbings and shootings, the team works around the clock using advanced skills and interventions on patients who would otherwise not be expected to survive. They care for these patients and support them on their journey, right through to rehabilitation. Staff are drawn from across the hospital; the Emergency Department, critical care, radiology, theatres, the Major Trauma Unit, Major Trauma case managers and rehabilitation.
Adam Brooks, MTC Clinical Director, said: “Since the centre opened in April 2012 it has gone from strength to strength and we are immensely proud to be celebrating our 10th anniversary.
“We are committed to doing everything we can to improve the outcomes for our patients and as well as this, we will continue working with our partners on injury-prevention programmes within the community, which is something we are passionate about.”
Logan Dack
One of the patients who the Major Trauma Centre cared for is Logan Dack. He was 17 when he suffered a severed kidney and a ruptured pancreas while taking part in a free-running event.
His mum, Shamaine Elms, said: “Logan was in A&E at the Queen’s Medical Centre and a consultant and surgeon came to speak to me. The surgeon told me they needed to keep an eye on him as his kidney had been severed and they were unclear as to the possible further damage.
“They told me he would be going up to Ward C30. I had no idea what this was.
“As we approached the ward I got upset when I saw the Major Trauma Unit sign. Everyone had been so calm, caring and professional; it hadn’t hit me until then how serious this was.
“Logan spent three weeks in Ward C30 with a stint post-surgery in Critical Care. He had major surgery to remove some of the damaged pancreas.
“The care and professionalism of all the staff was amazing. Despite it being the Covid-19 pandemic the communication was fantastic.
“I saw the range of patients and injuries they dealt with. It was humbling – thank you for saving my boy.”