10 October 2018

TARN report shows high quality trauma care at Trust

Data from the Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN) report highlights evidence of high quality trauma care at Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne DGH.

The TARN looks at the whole trauma patient journey, from the Emergency Department through the hospital, and shows that last year, Conquest Hospital was the fourth best in terms of survival outcome, with Eastbourne DGH 22nd out of all the country’s hospitals that provide a similar level service.

TARN is a research network which collects information on trauma patients, and calculates survival outcomes after trauma by the number of those who actually survived, compared with the number who are expected to survive. The report is published and the reports can be used by doctors, nurses and service managers to drive improvement. Cases can be drilled down on an individual basis.

Every year across England and Wales, 12,500 people die after traumatic injury with thousands left severely disabled for life. It is the leading cause of death among children and young adults. In addition, there are many thousands who are left severely disabled for life. The UK Trauma Audit Research Network (UKTARN) database helps ensure the provision of accurate and relevant information to help doctors, nurses, and services managers review and improve their services and patient outcomes.

Jim Flaherty, Trauma Nurse Service Coordinator said: “Our Emergency Departments have worked hard on the completeness of the data, so a true picture of each hospital’s Emergency Department is shown. This data indicates that the Trust is a place where patients are treated by the right clinicians, as quickly as possible, with some of the best survival rates in the country.”

Dr Paul Cornelius, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Clinical Lead said: “The daily challenges that the Emergency Department staff face are significant, and they do an incredible job as a matter of routine. I am very proud of the whole team. At ESHT, we are constantly focusing on achieving high quality outcomes for patients. This data recognises that we go beyond the norm, to deliver amazing results for the people we serve.”

Conquest Hospital is a designated Trauma Unit and Eastbourne DGH is designated as a Local Emergency Hospital so does not routinely receive TARN eligible trauma cases, and therefore the numbers are much lower.