Salford Royal Hospital’s major trauma unit have launched their safer Christmas campaign as they celebrate the approval of the plans for a new £67 million emergency centre.
Over the festive season, the number of major trauma patients admitted to Salford Royal rises. The hospital has launched a Christmas campaign in hopes of reducing the amount of life-threatening injuries over the holiday period.
The major trauma team are excited about the prospect of saving further lives, following Salford City Council giving the green light to build a new trauma department that hospital bosses say may save 50 more lives per year.
Statistics show that over Christmas, the number of casualties admitted to hospitals increase.
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Major trauma consultant nurse, Stuart Wildman explained: “Christmas is one of the busiest times and it’s usually associated around alcohol. People are out drinking more and they are at more risk of getting into fights and we see more head injuries.
“We also see increases in car crashes because of the drink driving. Also the lesser things that people expect like putting up christmas decorations or getting decorations out of the loft and falling from ladders.”
“Of course, we want people to have fun and enjoy the festive celebrations but we also want to remind people to take extra care and not take risks so we can all have a happy and safe Christmas.”
Caroline Abbott, a trainee advanced practitioner at the hospital has explained ways to reduce these risks over Christmas:
Salford Royal is the lead provider for trauma services across the Greater Manchester area, and were awarded the ‘Saving Lives’ award last week by the Northern Care Alliance Group in praise of their continuous efforts and outstanding services.
Major trauma units like Salford Royal have been created to enhance the care for patients suffering life threatening and life changing injuries.
They recognise the complexity of these injuries, and provide specialist care right from when the patient comes in, to when the patient is discharged from the hospital.
“Saving lives is not just about if that person has survived, it’s about whether you’ve saved the quality of their lives.” Mr Wildman explained.
“We are very much a team. Everybody comes together to ensure we can get that patient back to their families safely. In some cases we can improve their lives as well.”
The major trauma team are looking to further progress the quality of their service as they welcome the plans of a new £67 million emergency centre with a helipad on top, which bosses believe could save 50 lives per year.
Plans have been approved for a £67 million NHS major trauma centre – including a helipad – at Salford Royal. It'll accept the majority of adults with life threatening injuries from across Greater Manchester. As things stand, the air ambulance has to land in a local field. pic.twitter.com/Kw5sg9y2i7
— BBC Radio Manchester (@BBCRadioManc) December 5, 2019
Instead of having to land the air ambulance in a nearby field, the medical team will be able to transport the critically injured patients straight into the building which could potentially save many lives.
Mr Wildman said: “With any patient that has a major trauma injury, everything is time critical. Obviously landing on a playing fields where you then need and ambulance to bring the person forward increases delays.”
“We are saving lives now, but hopefully going forward we are able to save more lives and enhance the care and treatment that we can give our patients and create a building that’s fit not just for today, but for the future.”
The new six storey building is expected to be completed by February 2022.
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