National award win for North East trauma team
A team of North East paramedics working to improve the lives of major trauma patients has picked up a national award.
Every year, North East Ambulance Service crews attend around 300,000 incidents, of which around 1,500 are categorised as major trauma with an average of three incidents a day.
North East Ambulance Service’s trauma team responds to major trauma incidents across the region as well as working in partnership with other agencies to promote public health and developing pre-hospital knowledge for their colleagues through trauma workshops.
Since being created in 2012, the team has exceeded national expectations at both a regional and national level, helping to change trauma care practices through research, most of which is done in members’ own time.
In the most recent peer review of national and regional major trauma services, NEAS was one of only three services to have 100% compliance with no significant concerns or immediate risks.
The group’s efforts were recognised at NEAS’s 2016 Beyond the Call of Duty Awards. On the back of that award, the team was put forward for the Association of Ambulance Chief Executive (AACE) Outstanding Service Awards.
Consultant Paramedic Paul Aitken-Fell, who leads the team, picked up the Specialist Paramedic Award on behalf of the team at the event, held on 7 February.
He said: “Working closely with the Northern Trauma Network and all the operational staff here at NEAS, we have undoubtedly made a huge impact on survival rates from major trauma.
“I’m really proud of the team and what we have achieved. As a Trust, we’re now looking to build on this work to help us save more lives across the North East.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
For more information, contact the NEAS press office on 0191 430 2099.
About major trauma:
Major trauma describes serious injuries that are life changing and could result in death or serious disability, including head injuries, severe wounds and multiple fractures.
It is the main cause of death for people under the age of 45 and is a major cause of debilitating long term injuries. More than half of major trauma is caused by road traffic accidents.
The Northern Trauma Network brings together groups of services with the aim of reducing death and disability following injury. It was formally established in April 2012 with the two major trauma centres at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, supported by trauma units throughout the region.
With the implementation of a major trauma network, there is a much better chance of surviving and recovering from a major trauma injury. Patients have direct access to specialist teams and state-of-the-art equipment to ensure they receive immediate treatment, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
About North East Ambulance Service:
North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (NEAS) covers 3,200 square miles across the North East region. It employs more than 2,500 staff and serves a population of 2.7 million people by handling all NHS 111 and 999 calls for the region, operating patient transport and ambulance response services, delivering training for communities and commercial audiences and providing medical support cover at events.
In 2015/16 the service answered 1.160 million emergency 999 and NHS 111 calls, responded to 295,855 incidents that resulted in a patient being taken to hospital, treated and discharged 19,949 patients with telephone advice and treated and discharged 85,021 patients at home. In the same year, emergency care crews reached 132,948 incidents within the national target of 8 minutes.