The Royal College of Surgeons of England warmly welcomes the National Audit Office’s report into Major trauma care in England published today (Friday, 5 February 2010). The RCS has called for improvements in the treatment of major trauma in England for over a decade and this report firmly supports our recommendation for the establishment of regional major trauma centres to care for these patients.

Richard Collins, Vice-President and RCS lead on trauma care said: “The NAO report recognises that there are dramatic variations in care between hospitals and that it is neither cost effective nor in the best interest of patients for all hospitals to treat victims of major trauma. There is indisputable evidence that the introduction of regional trauma centres would save thousands of lives every year, however, very little progress has been made.

The College’s most recent report, published in December 2009, offers clear guidance to Strategic Health Authorities in terms of what is required in order to improve care for this group of patients and we would urge the Department of Health to engage with clinicians in implementing this guidance as a matter of urgency.”

A copy of the RCS Regional Trauma Systems Interim Guidance for Commissioners is available here.

Notes to Editors

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