Cambridge: Addenbrooke's Trauma Centre

2 April 2012, 06:00 | Updated: 2 April 2012, 12:52

Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge is now the East of England's 'Major Trauma Centre'.

It means by the end of the year anybody in the East who is severely injured in something like a car crash will be taken straight to Addenbrooke's, no matter where they are, instead of a local hospital.

According to NHS evidence, this approach will increase the chances of people surviving severe injuries due to the specialist facilities at Addenbrooke's.

The NHS also claims it will lead to a better overall quality of care at the hospital.

NHS figures show around 800 people in the region every year suffer a major trauma injury.

Major trauma generally includes life-threatening physical injuries like a major head injury, multiple injuries, spinal injury, amputation of limbs or severe knife or gunshot wounds.

The multi-disciplinary team at the Major Trauma Centre at Addenbrooke's will work together with a network of emergency departments, acute and specialist hospitals, the ambulance service and others to provide dedicated trauma care capabilities around the region. 

Basil Matta, Director of the Emergency and Perioperative Care Division at Cambridge University Hospitals, said:"With the establishment of the Major Trauma Centre here at Cambridge University Hospitals, our expert team will be able to successfully treat severely injured patients from right across the region, greatly improving their chances of survival and the overall quality of their care. 

Through close partnership and collaborativeworking with other NHS organisations across the network, learning and expertise will be shared to ensure patients receive the highest possible standards ofmajor trauma care.

Our Emergency Department at Addenbrooke?s will continue to provide the usual A&E service to everybody who needs it."

According to the NHS a major trauma is 'a condition caused by physical injury. 

As with all other medical conditions, trauma has a spectrum of severity from simple injury to complex, life changing and life threatening major trauma.'