Why wasn’t crash victim taken to the hospital next door?
WE EXPLAIN WHY THE RVI WAS THE BEST CHOICE
WHEN a four-vehicle crash happened on the A189 Spine Road in Northumberland on Sunday evening it seemed logical to most of us that the victim would be taken to the new Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital.
The hospital is less than a mile from the scene of the crash near Cramlington. Yet the victim was taken around 10 miles to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
To some, that may have seemed mad – but an explanation about how the system works made the RVI the obvious answer.
SO why the RVI when there was an emergency centre so close by?
A spokesperson for the Great North Air Ambulance explained that, in this instance, the casualty was suffering from ‘major trauma.’
In major trauma cases, it’s important that the patient is treated at a major trauma centre, of which there are 27 in the country, all of which are funded and equipped to deal with cases of this kind from a wide area.
Major trauma cases are those that, according to the NHS, “could result in death or serious disability, including head injuries, severe wounds and multiple fractures.”
These very serious cases are comparatively rare, so it wouldn’t be possible for all emergency centres to be equipped as major trauma centres.
In the North East, we’ve got the RVI and the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough.
The trauma centres are best equipped to deal with these cases, and they have immediate access to the best diagnostic and treatment facilities, including blood transfusion, CT scans, and emergency operating theatres.
The NHS website explains: “This may involve bypassing their local hospital so patients can immediately receive specialist care with access to CT scans and innovative technology.”
So even if you were involved in a car crash on the doorstep of the NSECH, there are cases where it would still be better to be treated at the RVI.
WAS it because the RVI has space for helicopters to land?
The RVI is equipped to receive helicopters from the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) and the airborne ambulance did attend the scene of the crash.
However, in the end it was decided that the best and safest way to get her to hospital was via road, so she travelled in the road ambulance, accompanied by a GNAAS doctor who was able to help paramedics with treatment.
Contrary to what some of our readers guessed, GNAAS vehicles can land at Cramlington too, as plenty of serious emergencies are dealt with there.
BUT doesn’t the hospital in Cramlington specialise in emergency care?
Yes, it does. The NSECH is designed to treat seriously ill patients across the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s area, meaning that other hospitals in the region won’t have to put their patients’ care on hold in order to prioritise emergencies.
There’s plenty that comes under the definition of an ‘emergency’ that doesn’t count as major trauma.
Heart attacks and strokes, major blood loss or sudden serious illnesses or complications could all mean you need treatment at the NSECH. It’s got plenty of specialist equipment and is staffed with specialist medics 24/7, it just happens not to be the best place for major trauma, specifically.
HOW is it decided where they’re sent?
The cases are assessed by ambulance staff, who decide where a patient needs to go.
There could be some cases of road accidents where it’s better to go to a hospital like the Cramlington one, depending on the nature and severity of injuries, in other cases, like this one, they’ll decide the patient needs to be treated in a major trauma centre.
They’re also trained to care for patients on the journey and keep them stable before they can receive the specialist help they need.
WAS the patient in this case all right?
Police say the 59-year-old woman arrived at the hospital in a stable condition and her injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
Northumbria Police spokeswoman said are still appealing for witnesses.
Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to contact Northumbria Police 101, quoting log 731 26/03/17.