TRAUMA CALLS

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Ambulance Service Clinicians’ views on South Wales Major Trauma Network: a qualitative study (TRAUMA CALLS)

• IRAS ID

  295349

• Contact name

  Alison Porter

• Contact email

  a.m.porter@swansea.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Research Engagement & Innovation Services, Swansea University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 3 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  The aim of the study is to understand the views of ambulance service clinicians and trauma desk clinical staff on the role and functioning of the South Wales Major Trauma Network.

  Objectives:
  1) To explore perspectives on the training / preparedness of ambulance clinicians for responding to major trauma
  2) To understand triggers / barriers to calling the Major Trauma Desk
  3) To explore the experience of calls to the Major Trauma Desk and giving and receiving advice
  4) To explore beliefs, experience and expectations in relation to caring for trauma patients over long journey times

  How is it of relevance and importance to patients and public?
  The aim of the Major Trauma Network is to improve patient survival and recovery. The Major Trauma Centre opened in Cardiff to provide specialist care, while five other hospitals across the SW region will care for less seriously injured patients in Trauma Units. The expected number of moderate and major trauma cases per year across the south Wales is 2,100.

  When attending a trauma, paramedics on the scene need to decide whether to convey a patient to the Major Trauma Centre or to a Trauma Unit, or other facility, which may be nearer. A 24-hour Major Trauma Desk has been set up, staffed by specialist paramedics/clinical care practitioners from the Welsh Ambulance Service and the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service, which helps in identifying patients who need to be immediately taken to the major trauma centre.

  Participants
  We will ask the following to take part in interviews:
  10 staff from trauma desk (WAST and EMRTS)
  10 paramedics/EMTs who called trauma desk within previous month
  10 paramedics/EMTs who attended trauma calls but did not contact the trauma desk

  Data collection
  Semi-structured interviews conducted over Teams or telephone (n=30)

  Analysis
  We will take a Framework approach to analysis of the data (Ritchie and Spencer 1994).
  Analysis will be led by Alison Porter and all members of the research team will contribute to analysis and interpretation of findings.

  We will begin recruiting once all approvals are confirmed. The study will run until 31st July 2021.

• REC name

  N/A

• REC reference

  N/A