News
Trauma networks save 300 lives a year Introduction of specialist centres is an ‘NHS success story’ as more people survive serious injuries
Traffic light system can be used to assess high temperature THE NATIONAL Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended the use of a traffic-light system to indicate whether high temperature in children signals serious illness. According to advice released by NICE, in identifying the cause of fever in children aged five years or under, it can be difficult to distinguish between common viruses and life-threatening bacterial infection. The organisation recommends grouping signs and symptoms into green, amber and red categories, where the red group includes grunting and neck stiffness, and amber includes dry mucus membranes and reduced urine output. Nurses should measure and record children’s temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate if fever is suspected, NICE says. Find out more Feverish Illness in Children is available at www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG160 EMERGENCY NURSE
problems quicker and perform life-saving operations earlier. This means about 600 fewer lives cut short and 600 fewer bereaved families.’ According to NHS England, the 16,000 life-threatening major traumas are the biggest cause of death in children and adults under the age of 40 annually. Comprehensive care Since the networks were introduced, patients with the most serious injuries go directly to one of 25 major trauma centres around the country. Previously they were taken to the nearest hospitals even if they could not provide the comprehensive care they needed. As well as saving lives, regional trauma networks have reduced the number of
Find out more The audit data can be seen at www.tarn.ac.uk
Protein test may ensure quick diagnosis of heart attack RESEARCH NURSES are investigating whether testing levels of heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) in patients with suspected heart attack can speed up diagnosis. Guzelian
By Nick Lipley FIGURES SHOWING that 600 more patients have survived major trauma since services were changed in April 2012 have been applauded as a ‘major NHS success story’. An independent audit, commissioned by NHS England and produced by the Trauma Audit and Research Network, shows that the chances of patients surviving severe injuries improved by 30% after regional trauma networks were introduced across England. This equates to 600 lives saved over a two-year period, the audit suggests. NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said: ‘This is a major success story. More people are surviving serious injuries because they are taken straight to specialist trauma teams, who identify life-threatening
people left with permanent disability, NHS England claims. National clinical director for trauma for NHS England Chris Moran said: ‘People are rightly quick to point out where the NHS falls down, but this report shows our NHS at its best. By any international standard, these figures speak for themselves. ‘We are saving more lives than ever before. In my daily practice as a surgeon, I am seeing patients survive injuries that would have been fatal just a few years ago.’ Professor Moran added: ‘The figures also serve as a stark reminder that, where change saves life and improves care, we must be flexible and prepared to change the system rapidly to deliver the care that our patients deserve.’
Clinical research nurse Andy Brown takes blood from a patient for the trial
Manchester Royal Infirmary and Salford Royal Hospital are testing levels of the protein H-FABP, which rise after a heart attack. The test is part of the Manchester Acute Coronary Syndromes Decision Rule, a process for assessing patients with chest pain who are admitted to emergency departments. As part of the decision rule, patients are also tested for another protein, troponin, and the results are analysed along with patient symptoms and electrocardiogram results. Clinicians most often test for blood-troponin levels, which rise after a heart attack. But, because such increases can take several hours, diagnoses of heart attack based on the test can be delayed. Half of patients in the trial will be tested for troponin levels and the other half waccording to the decision rule. Researchers will assess which method is more cost effective and generates most patient satisfaction. Consultant in emergency medicine at Manchester Royal Infirmary Rick Body, who is leading the research, said testing under the decision rule could reduce time to diagnosis by up to 12 hours. September 2014 | Volume 22 | Number 5
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Trauma networks save 300 lives a year Introduction of specialist centres is an ‘NHS success story’ as more people survive serious injuries
Traffic light system can be used to assess high temperature THE NATIONAL Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended the use of a traffic-light system to indicate whether high temperature in children signals serious illness. According to advice released by NICE, in identifying the cause of fever in children aged five years or under, it can be difficult to distinguish between common viruses and life-threatening bacterial infection. The organisation recommends grouping signs and symptoms into green, amber and red categories, where the red group includes grunting and neck stiffness, and amber includes dry mucus membranes and reduced urine output. Nurses should measure and record children’s temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate if fever is suspected, NICE says. Find out more Feverish Illness in Children is available at www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG160 EMERGENCY NURSE
problems quicker and perform life-saving operations earlier. This means about 600 fewer lives cut short and 600 fewer bereaved families.’ According to NHS England, the 16,000 life-threatening major traumas are the biggest cause of death in children and adults under the age of 40 annually. Comprehensive care Since the networks were introduced, patients with the most serious injuries go directly to one of 25 major trauma centres around the country. Previously they were taken to the nearest hospitals even if they could not provide the comprehensive care they needed. As well as saving lives, regional trauma networks have reduced the number of
Find out more The audit data can be seen at www.tarn.ac.uk
Protein test may ensure quick diagnosis of heart attack RESEARCH NURSES are investigating whether testing levels of heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) in patients with suspected heart attack can speed up diagnosis. Guzelian
By Nick Lipley FIGURES SHOWING that 600 more patients have survived major trauma since services were changed in April 2012 have been applauded as a ‘major NHS success story’. An independent audit, commissioned by NHS England and produced by the Trauma Audit and Research Network, shows that the chances of patients surviving severe injuries improved by 30% after regional trauma networks were introduced across England. This equates to 600 lives saved over a two-year period, the audit suggests. NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said: ‘This is a major success story. More people are surviving serious injuries because they are taken straight to specialist trauma teams, who identify life-threatening
people left with permanent disability, NHS England claims. National clinical director for trauma for NHS England Chris Moran said: ‘People are rightly quick to point out where the NHS falls down, but this report shows our NHS at its best. By any international standard, these figures speak for themselves. ‘We are saving more lives than ever before. In my daily practice as a surgeon, I am seeing patients survive injuries that would have been fatal just a few years ago.’ Professor Moran added: ‘The figures also serve as a stark reminder that, where change saves life and improves care, we must be flexible and prepared to change the system rapidly to deliver the care that our patients deserve.’
Clinical research nurse Andy Brown takes blood from a patient for the trial
Manchester Royal Infirmary and Salford Royal Hospital are testing levels of the protein H-FABP, which rise after a heart attack. The test is part of the Manchester Acute Coronary Syndromes Decision Rule, a process for assessing patients with chest pain who are admitted to emergency departments. As part of the decision rule, patients are also tested for another protein, troponin, and the results are analysed along with patient symptoms and electrocardiogram results. Clinicians most often test for blood-troponin levels, which rise after a heart attack. But, because such increases can take several hours, diagnoses of heart attack based on the test can be delayed. Half of patients in the trial will be tested for troponin levels and the other half waccording to the decision rule. Researchers will assess which method is more cost effective and generates most patient satisfaction. Consultant in emergency medicine at Manchester Royal Infirmary Rick Body, who is leading the research, said testing under the decision rule could reduce time to diagnosis by up to 12 hours. September 2014 | Volume 22 | Number 5
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 13, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
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