Deciding where to take a person with major trauma

Information for the public

There are 2 types of centres that treat people with major trauma. These are called major trauma centres and trauma units, and are explained in the box below. Ambulance teams should have a checklist called a 'triage tool' to help them decide where to take people. This checklist should include information about the type of injuries the person has and their general condition. It should take into account the needs of:

older people
children
women who are pregnant
people who already have other illnesses or conditions
people who take medicine to prevent blood clots (called an anticoagulant), which can increase the risk of bleeding from injuries.

A doctor or nurse at the ambulance control centre should always be available to give the ambulance team advice.

Ambulance teams should spend only enough time at the scene of the incident to give life-saving treatment that is needed immediately.

Major trauma centres and trauma units

Major trauma centres are specialist hospitals that provide care for people with severe injuries. Trauma units are based in hospitals and provide care for less serious injuries. Most people with major trauma should be taken straight to a major trauma centre for treatment, rather than a trauma unit, even if the major trauma centre is further away.

Sometimes the ambulance team cannot give the life-saving treatment the person needs at the scene of the incident. If this happens, and if the nearest trauma unit is closer than the major trauma centre, the ambulance team should take the person to the trauma unit for quick emergency treatment. The person should then be moved to a major trauma centre as soon as it is safe to do so.