SCOTTISH Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has praised the work supporting the victims of serious injury after its first year in operation.
The Scottish Trauma Network (STN) helps to ensure that people who have been seriously injured get the best possible care and an enhanced chance of recovery.
Each year in Scotland, around 4000 people are seriously injured, with 800-1000 cases being defined as having "major trauma".
The STN is made up of specialist centres in Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh and are linked through the Scottish Ambulance Service.
During a visit to the Major Trauma Centre at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh which opened last year, Yousaf said: “The STN is now fully joined-up and will continue to provide better outcomes than ever for our most severely injured patients.
“Trauma triage tools are used to support decision-making around the best place to treat a person, and ensure they are taken there promptly.
“Investments made in staffing including advanced paramedic teams, trauma co-ordinators and rehabilitation teams, will support delivery of a higher standard of care than ever before.
“I am immensely proud of all that the STN's clinicians, paramedics and supporting staff have achieved. Thanks are due to each and every one of them.”
Each Major Trauma Centre has wide ranging knowledge which can help manage multiple specialist patient needs at the earliest possible opportunity.
In its first year since the network became fully operational, more than 3800 patients have been treated at the centres, with 180 of these being children under 16 years old.
Since 2018, the Scottish Government has committed over £112 million to the STN with over £40m invested in this financial year alone.
The first trauma centres were opened in Aberdeen and Dundee in 2018 while the facilities at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh opened in August 2021.
National clinical lead of the STN Martin McKechnie said: “The STN is improving outcomes for patients who have experienced serious and potentially life-changing injury which could result in death or serious disability.”
McKechnie added that Monday’s visit from Yousaf gave him the chance to meet the “incredible teams in person”.
The Health Secretary was also able to hear first-hand accounts of those who had received trauma care, including Sandy Baptie– a 66-year-old retired policeman who was hit by a car while cycling.
McKechnie added: “Leading Scotland’s expert clinicians in this world-leading, ambitious and innovative network of prehospital, trauma and rehabilitation care has been a professional privilege.
“It has demonstrated what we in NHS Scotland alongside the Scottish Government can achieve with purpose, dedication and clarity in a truly national, collaborative and pragmatic endeavour.”
Earlier this year, the STN was the focus of Channel 4 documentary, Rescue: Extreme Medics, which showed some of the challenging circumstances faced by the clinical teams.
Chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service Pauline Howie said: “The Scottish Ambulance Service is a vital part of the STN, ensuring that seriously injured patients are transported to the right hospital for their injuries.
“From major trauma identification and the delivery of highly skilled pre-hospital care and retrievals, to the repatriation of patients for rehabilitation across Scotland, the service plays a key role.”
