First major trauma centre heading to southWales

CARDIFF and Swansea are in a race to become home to Wales first ever major hospital trauma centre.

Both Morriston Hospital and Cardiff ’s University Hospital of Wales want to secure the unit.

Independent experts are looking at the two rival bids, according to the BBC. There are 27 similar units operating in England but none in Wales. The absence of a similar setup in Wales has been called “embarrassing” with claims it is falling behind other developed countries.

Survival rates in England have improved significantly since a major trauma care network was established over the past seven years.

The centre would offer specialist hospital care for the care of the most severely injured patients with experts in a wide range of injuries available around the clock. The first was established in London in 2010 and four are planned in Scotland.

Now, after years of discussion, a significant milestone in establishing a major trauma network in south Wales will be reached within weeks. A panel of experts has been looking at the cases for each over recent weeks. A recommendation to NHS Wales is imminent although it may still be many months a before a decision is reached.

The preferred option will go out to consultation and if no agreement can be reached, the final decision could rest with the health secretary. But whichever hospital is chosen, Morriston and the UHW hospitals would have to work closely together, while experts say the process is not about winners or losers and patients are set to gain.

Dr Melissa Rossiter, consultant in emergency medicine and clinical lead for major trauma at Cardiff and Vale health board told BBC Wales: “It’s actually embarrassing to be part of a system that doesn’t have regionalised network in major trauma care and Wales is getting left behind the rest of the modern world.”

She said hospitals which developed better major trauma management also learnt new skills and approaches which could benefit other specialities.

Prof Ian Pallister, consultant and major trauma lead at Morriston, added: “The odds of survival since they were established in England up to 30% higher now than at the beginning. There’s every reason we can make the same gains.”

Tim Havard, director of the Royal College of Surgeons in Wales, said it was about ensuring patients got “prompt, high class care irrespective of where they have been injured”.

However, he added: “Progress in planning for major trauma in south Wales has been too slow and clarity regarding which hospital will develop the MTC is now necessary.”