The East of England Trauma Network (Trauma East) brings together all those responsible for treating major trauma patients across the six counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and Norfolk. Our aim is to improve the treatment of this disease and reduce disability and deaths. We aim to ensure that the patient receives the most appropriate care at the correct time in the correct place.

The Network comprises

• the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust and a number of enhanced care teams

• the regional Major Trauma Centre (MTC)

• 12 Trauma Units (TU) 

• one local emergency hospital

• one specialist rehabilitation service at the Colman Centre

Cambridge University Hospitals, Addenbrooke's Hospital, is the regional Major Trauma Centre for adults and paediatrics as it is the only hospital in the region to provide all the required services including neurosurgery, interventional radiology and paediatric intensive care.. A key factor in providing the expert care for major  trauma is ensuring the availability of these specialties in one dedicated location.

Depending on journey time and injury, patients can be transported directly to the MTC following on scene assessment, or may be transferred from a Trauma Unit following initial care and stabilisation.

 

The MTC also hosts the Network Co-ordination Service (NCS) which is specifically designed to provide clinical decision support to ensure patients receive the right care at the right time in the right place.

Trauma Units play a vital role in the initial resuscitation of major trauma patients. They may also be involved in the on-going care, specialist needs such as burns, and rehabilitation.