Air ambulances contribute to improved patient outcomes in the UK
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) has helped to achieve the recent outstanding results, according to information released in August by the Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN)
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) has helped to achieve the recent outstanding results, according to information released in August by the Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN). The results have shown an increase in the number of patients now surviving severe injuries, who would have died before the introduction of trauma networks in England.
The biggest change in trauma care has been the introduction of Regional Trauma Networks in 2012, which enable the rapid and safe transfer of patients to designated Major Trauma Centres throughout the country. The networks were developed by doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, including paramedics and physiotherapists, to ensure that the patient receives the best possible care from the scene of the accident through to their rehabilitation at home.
Dr Simon Hughes, director of major trauma at University Hospital Southampton, explained how the air ambulance has helped with these results: “The launch of Major Trauma Networks and Major Trauma Centres nationally in 2012 has given astounding results. Patients are 63 per cent more likely to survive suffering serious injuries now than only a few years ago. We expected to see some improvements after the launch, based on examples in other countries, but this scale of improvement has blown us away.” He added: “The crux of the improvement has been getting the most seriously injured patients to the Major Trauma Centre (University Hospital Southampton) as quickly as possible. The critical care team of consultant doctor and paramedic working on the air ambulance together with the paramedics on the ground has enabled patients with life-threatening injuries to get advanced medical treatment immediately on scene together with high speed air transfer to the expert team at the Major Trauma Centre. These initiatives really are saving lives.”