After Trauma Team

The ESHT After Trauma Team (ATT) is a team of multidisciplinary clinicians based primarily at our East Sussex Trauma Unit at Conquest Hospital, but covering the whole of East Sussex.

The team is responsible for those patients who have been admitted to our hospitals for treatment and support following a major traumatic injury. Major Trauma can include significant isolated injuries or serious multiple injuries which may result in disability.

The team includes specialist Medical, Nursing and Therapeutic clinicians who meet weekly to discuss these admissions and any specialist rehabilitation needs that they may require.

The team work within the wider Sussex Trauma Network to ensure those patient needing medical care at the Sussex Major Trauma centre in Brighton are transferred seamlessly and those returning from Brighton or from out of area receive the support they need upon their arrival and with their longer term medical management and rehabilitation needs.

The After Trauma Team includes support and care from:

Trauma Nurse Service Co-ordinator
AHP Rehabilitation Consultant
Rehabilitation Co-ordinator
TARN Co-ordinator
Specialist Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Occupational Therapist
Specialist Orthopaedic Physiotherapists
Specialist Neurological Physiotherapists
Orthopaedic Specialist Nurse Practitioner

About major trauma

In England, approximately 20,000 adults and children are seriously injured each year. Major trauma is any injury that has the potential to cause long-term disability.

There are many causes of major trauma, including road traffic accidents, falls or accidents at work. Injuries are severe and complex, often with multiple fractures, nerve and soft tissue damage and sometimes traumatic limb loss. Traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury are specific types of major trauma.

General Trauma

After Trauma Charity – After Trauma aims to provide a community for patients and families to rebuild lives and support each other after experiencing a traumatic injury. Their website also contains information and resources to help survivors and families on the recovery journey.

AfterTrauma recovery app provides a number of interactive features to help people track their recovery after injury across many aspects of their lives.

Acquired Brain Injury

Headway Sussex: Living well after brain injury: Headway Sussex is an independent charity affiliated to national charity Headway UK. Their aim is to extend further to support people with a brain injury right across Sussex to live well.

Home – Child Brain Injury Trust: Research and provide information regarding the effects of ‘traumatic’ injury on a child’s developing brain.

CBIT In Hand – Child Brain Injury Trust: CBIT In Hand is the first ever digital health intervention for families affected by Childhood Acquired Brain Injury. It gives parents and families access to virtual support for childhood concussion, head injury and acquired brain injury (ABI).

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal Injuries Association: The go-to place for everyone affected by spinal cord injury (SCI), so that they can quickly connect them to the vast network of people, organisations and services people need.

Back Up Spinal Cord Injury Charity: Inspiring people affected by spinal cord injury to get the most out of life.

Aspire supports people with Spinal Cord Injury: Aspire provides practical help to people who have been paralysed by Spinal Cord Injury, supporting them from injury to independence.

Major Trauma patient information leaflets

After Trauma Team

Rib fractures and chest injury

Head Injury – Advice for Adults When Leaving Hospital

Trauma and Orthopaedic Patient Information leaflets

How to contact the After Trauma Team

esht.aftertraumateam@nhs.net

My Health and Care Records

Any patient who has been admitted to one of our acute hospitals may have already been invited to join and create a profile within My Health and Care records.

The After Trauma team will be using My Health and Care Record to follow up with some patients following recent treatment at either Conquest Hospital or Eastbourne DGH.

My Health and Care Record will be used to provide patients with information to support their recovery and may also ask patients to complete a questionnaire to see how they are getting on and identify if any additional support is required. Patients may be contacted through a letter, inviting them to register. If patients choose not to register then the follow up questionnaire will be sent through the post.

If you want to know more please see our trust webpage for more details:

My Health and Care Record

STRIPE (Sussex Trauma Recovery and Patient Engagement group)

STRIPE could benefit those who have suffered potentially life-threatening or life-changing injuries that have affected any aspect of life. This includes patients and their families or carers. Have you or a family member recently received treatment in hospital following a traumatic injury? Would you like to share your experiences – good or bad – and help shape healthcare in your community? If so we’d love to hear from you.

We aim to keep improving our care and the best way for us to learn how to do this is hearing directly from patients, families, and carers just like you. Sharing your stories means we can improve care and outcomes for current and future sufferers of trauma related injury and illness.

If you would like to get involved or get more information, please contact us on:

Email: uhsussex.sussextrauma@nhs.net
Twitter: @sussextrauma
Facebook: @sussextraumanetwork