The Tasmanian Liberal Government is getting things done to deliver a world-class health system for Tasmanians, with an expanded Statewide Trauma Service now in effect at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH).
As the State’s major trauma centre, the RHH provides care and treatment for those with the most serious and complex injuries and sees hundreds of major trauma cases every year.
Commencing operations last month, the enhanced Statewide Trauma Service is delivering benefits right across the State through a new statewide trauma bed-card and referral system that allows consistent management of patients with complex injuries, regardless of where they are located.
This means that specialist trauma clinicians are on-call 24/7 at the RHH to provide guidance to their colleagues in the North and North West caring for seriously injured patients.
For the first time, all major trauma patients are now also being admitted under a single multidisciplinary team of specialist trauma doctors and nurses who will lead a patient’s care plan from injury right through to rehabilitation as part of an ongoing funding investment of $2.5 million annually.
By establishing a dedicated specialist multidisciplinary team, the Statewide Trauma Service has significantly expanded in size, successfully recruiting to a range of new clinical, nursing and research roles.
Premier and Minister for Health, Jeremy Rockliff, said the Government is delivering on our commitment to provide the best possible healthcare to Tasmanians.
“Major trauma can strike anyone, such as those injured in a car crash or from a bad fall, and we are ensuring they have the best care possible during their treatment and recovery,” the Premier said.
“The Statewide Trauma Service will ensure Tasmanians with the most serious and complex injuries get the right care, in the right place, at the right time – no matter where they are across the state.
“Under the new model, a medical team of trauma consultants and junior doctors will lead the trauma patient’s care plan, from initial injury through to rehabilitation.
“Specialist trauma case management nurses will ensure that every patient receives optimal care and that the social and mental wellbeing of patients and their families is supported.
“We know that the recovery process for people with complex injuries does not end when they are discharged from hospital and the Trauma Service will offer follow-up clinics and engage directly with patients’ general practitioners to ensure patients achieve the best possible recovery after injury.
“Furthermore, having a dedicated team to provide initial care for all complex trauma patients will streamline transfers of injured patients from the Launceston General Hospital and North West Regional Hospital and minimise the time southern trauma patients spend in the RHH Emergency Department.”
The expanded Statewide Trauma Service also has capacity to support community-based injury prevention programs and to engage in research that helps to identify and remove barriers to optimal trauma care throughout Tasmania.