Secretary of State visits CUH

Rt Hon Andrew Lansley MP, Secretary of State for Health, visited the Trust yesterday to discuss the establishment of a major trauma centre for the East of England, located at Addenbrooke's.

He attended an informal Q&A session, chaired by chairman Dr Mary Archer, in which the key players explained why Addenbrooke's was chosen, the negotiations with the regional trauma network, the commissioning process, facilities, staffing and the clinical perspective on running a major trauma centre alongside an emergency department.

Richard Kendall and Rod MacKenzie, consultants in emergency medicine, explained the importance of seeing major trauma as a rare but important disease process, which needs specialist treatment and facilities. Major trauma is the leading cause of death for people under the age of 40 in the UK, yet accounts for only 1 per cent of 999 calls. 

Claudia Macfarlane, associate director of operations for emergency and perioperative care, explained that as part of the designation process the entire ED will be upgraded, including the commissioning of a new operating theatre; recruitment of consultants and nursing staff; and training for existing ED staff. Clinical pathways will need to be integrated with other parts of the major trauma network, including retrieval, rehabilitation and repatriation. And the Trust will run patient focus groups to ensure the centre's design meets their needs.

Also present were representatives from the East of England specialised commissioning group and Dr Robert Winter, chairman of east of England major trauma network.

Mr Lansley later went for a brief tour of the ED, before meeting local media.

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