THE TRAUMA TEAM CONCEPT AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN A DISTRICT GENERAL-HOSPITAL

A trauma team approach to the initial assessment, investigation and tr eatment of potentially seriously injured patients has been implemented at a district general hospital. Team members are mobilised by an emer gency paging system which is activated when a patient fulfils one or m ore of a predetermined list of historical, pathophysiological and anat omical criteria. Aspects of the function of the trauma team were asses sed after 10 months of operation. The problems encountered and solutio ns implemented are discussed. As a result, the structure and function of the trauma team has been modified and improved. Although hospitals differ in workload and staffing, the trauma team concept is possible a nd achievable at no extra cost. Trauma teams maximise existing resourc es and constitute a valid approach to the early management of the irre gular presentation of the severely injured patient to district general hospitals. The establishment of such teams with members who should be ATLS trained, should be a current priority in district general hospit als in the UK.