Every second counts

The Trauma Outcomes project supported by Goldman Sachs is developing the world’s first dedicated facility to explore and validate measures of trauma outcomes. The funding supports a multi professional team who will collect long-term outcome data from trauma patients and conduct two pilot studies to demonstrate the power and potential of a fully-functioning facility.

The trauma outcomes unit has been in operation for 18 months and has a skilled team comprising of a Clinical Research Fellow with an interest in trauma and emergency surgery; a Senior Research Nurse with a background in emergency medicine and a Senior Research Occupational Therapist with a background in Neurology and critical care rehabilitation. The team are focussing on all aspects of the trauma patient’s journey to identify optimal interventions and timings which result in the best long term outcome for patients.

At the mid-point of this 3-year programme, the Trauma Outcomes Core (TOC) is making good progress against its research and educational objectives, demonstrating the impact that such a unit can have upon improving patient care. As well as focused internal development, the unit has continued to lead the development of external research and therapy collaborations to maximise the impact of its activities.

As a direct result of the unit’s unique research in the development of sure assessment tools, a joint pilot programme has been developed with the London Trauma Office to evaluate rehabilitation needs of patients in all of the Network’s Major Trauma Centres and subsequently make informed recommendations to ensure implementation of the most appropriate tools for outcomes measurement.

The Royal London Hospital is at the forefront of leading trauma and critical care medicine. Through grant and fundraising efforts at Barts and the London Charity, new, cutting edge facilities continue to be funded to improve patient critical care medicine.