More Consultants Needed To Deal With Trauma Care, Says BMA, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 21 Nov 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Responding today to NCEPOD's1 study on trauma care2, Chairman of the BMA's Consultants' Committee, Dr Jonathan Fielden, said the report demonstrated how consultant expansion was vital to improve patient care.

He added:

"Today's report demonstrates how consultants are essential to bring about change and improve patient care in the health service.

"Managing the care of trauma patients can be very complex and it is extremely important to work as a multidisciplinary team, based on care from the consultant, the most senior experienced clinician.

"The BMA fully backs NCEPOD's recommendation that a consultant should be the team leader in managing the care of severely injured patients. The problem is that the NHS still does not have enough consultants and patients are suffering as a result.

"We know that patients' chances of survival are best achieved by consultant-based care. This is the gold standard of quality care which the government needs to realise is what the NHS and patients need."

Notes:

1 National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death
2 Trauma: Who cares?

http://www.bma.org.uk

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