The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Year of saving lives hailed as trauma network at best
Health: Minister visits on first anniversary of unit to treat most seriously ill
Scotland’s first major trauma centre (MTC) has celebrated its first anniversary with a visit from Health Secretary Jeane Freeman.
More than 275 severely injured patients have been treated by emergency teams since the centre opened on October 1 last year.
Ms Freeman, who officially opened the MTC, said:“This is the Scottish trauma network at its best, with national collaboration and sharing of best practice
“The first year of the major trauma centre has been a great success”
to continuously improve care.
“This is shown by staff and colleagues working across traditional specialities and geographic boundaries to save lives and give life back to our most severely injured patients.”
The occasion was also marked by a motion in Holyrood.
MSP Lewis Macdonald placed it before colleagues to recognise the opening and congratulate those who campaigned for an MTC to be located in the north-east.
He said: “The opening of the major trauma centre at Foresterhill was a major step towards improving the way that victims of traumatic injuries are treated in the north and north-east of Scotland and provided certainty about the future of hospital care in the north-east. The first year of the Aberdeen major trauma centre has been a great success and it is now leading the way for trauma care in Scotland.”
Of the 275 patients treated by the network, 101 came through the doors of Aberdeen’s MTC.
Dr Iain MacLeod, consultant in intensive care medicine, and unit clinical director for the MTC, said: “We’ve seen some really positive stuff around patient experience and the feedback from them is almost universally positive.
“There have been challenges, as there are with any new project, but ultimately the change has been very beneficial and successful.
“It’s an exciting and innovative approach to trauma medicine which keeps our adult and paediatric trauma patients very much at the heart of each component of their healthcare journey.”
Anne-Marie Pitt, north of Scotland trauma network manager, said: “The network approach to the management of patients is especially important in the north where there are many remote and rural communities both on the mainland and the islands.
“The network has enhanced the effective co-ordination of personcentred care from the many agencies spanning pre-hospital care, to the rehabilitation and recovery to expedite the return of patients to independence and their community.”
Further facilities are due to open in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee.