First Minister opens new trauma centre at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee

By The Press Association20th November 201823rd December 2018News ScotlandAccident and Emergency, Dundee / Tayside, Hospitals, News Scotland, NHS, Tayside

A major trauma centre to treat the most seriously injured patients in the east of Scotland has been opened by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Based at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, the centre will provide specialist care and rehabilitation to help improve patient recovery.

It is the second centre to open as part of the Scottish Trauma Network, which consists of four major trauma centres located across the country.

The first centre opened last month in Aberdeen, with centres in Glasgow and Edinburgh due to open in 2019.

On a tour of the centre, Ms Sturgeon spoke to representatives from the Scottish Ambulance Service before meeting healthcare staff and former trauma patients.

The First Minister said: “The Scottish Trauma Network will help our most severely injured patients and ensure patients have the best chance of a speedy recovery from their injuries.

“The new centre will help those in major trauma get access to better care and rehabilitation support by specialist staff, which together will save lives and give life back.”

Clinical lead for major trauma, Dr Michael Johnston, said: “The major trauma service is about creating a dedicated speciality team around the patient.

“This begins at the roadside and continues until the patient arrives at the major trauma centre, where the assembled hospital-based trauma team is ready to receive them, right up until the patient is discharged.

“This collaborative way of working ensures that treatment is brought forward at the correct time and crucially making sure that rehabilitation starts very early in the patient’s pathway of care.

“We know that this way of working does produce better outcomes for seriously injured patients.”

Martin McKechnie, of Scottish Trauma Network, said: “Major trauma often results in life-threatening and life-changing injuries.

“The network has been working in collaboration with NHS boards and the Scottish Ambulance Service to improve and optimise the health and well-being of the seriously injured.

“The opening of this major trauma centre in Dundee, the second of four major trauma centres for Scotland, is an exciting milestone and highlights the ongoing work of the Scottish Trauma Network.”