A Trauma System for Ireland: Report of the Trauma Steering Group

Major trauma involves complex injuries that have the potential to cause prolonged disability or death – estimates are that around 1,600 patients a year in Ireland suffer major trauma. While this is a small number within more than 1.1 million Emergency Department attendances, it is essential that these patients receive the right care in the right place, first time. However, there is a general consensus that our management of patients with multiple injuries compares poorly with contemporary international standards in trauma care.

For example, currently, patients may present to any acute hospital, regardless of how much expertise and experience in trauma exists there, and we know that patients often need to be transferred to a second hospital to receive definitive care for their injuries. This can mean delays in decision-making and treatment that can result in poorer outcomes and preventable disability or death. Internationally, the evidence is clear – the introduction of a trauma system is associated with a reduction in death and disability.

The vision for a national trauma system set out in the Report of the Trauma Steering Group, A Trauma System for Ireland is to prevent unnecessary deaths, to reduce disabilities and to significantly improve the patient’s chances of attaining the fullest possible recovery.