Trauma

New methods designed to help accident victims make quick and full recoveries from their injuries are being pioneered in Stoke-on-Trent. The Staffordshire Royal Infirmary is conducting a unique experiment by running a trauma unit in the casualty department. This means that when an injured patient is admitted, at whatever time of day or night, a specialist consultant is on hand to assess the damage and immediately decide on a course of action. This expertise, when combined with facilities one would normally expect to find in other hospital departments, has proved effective in saving lives and shortening in-patient time. QED returns with an extended edition following the work of the trauma unit. Says Tony Redmond , one of the trauma team leaders: "We're saving more lives and the quality of the ones we save is improved."