Major trauma patient leaflet

NHS Borders 

Your Journey

What is Major Trauma?

Major Trauma is considered to be a serious injury or multiple injuries, which are potentially life-threatening, and can sometimes result in long-term disability. Early identification and treatment of major trauma can save lives, prevent complications, speed recovery and allow an earlier return to an active life.

Trauma Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation plays a crucial role in supporting your recovery and aims to limit the impact your injuries may have on your everyday life. This will involve treatment for physical injuries and may also include psychological support.

The Major Trauma Team will provide you with support and information to help you better understand your injuries and how they may affect you. Rehabilitation will begin early in your patient journey and whilst you are still in hospital. The rehabilitation team will assess you, and the type and amount of therapy you require will be based on your individual needs, injuries and what matters to you. A Rehabilitation Plan will outline your injuries, the type of rehabilitation you require and your goals. Rehabilitation can continue at home. If necessary, you will be referred for outpatient services or rehabilitation within your home.

Pre-hospital

The ambulance service will provide you with immediate emergency care.

Acute Care

You will have received emergency care from the team in the Major Trauma Centre or in your local Trauma Unit. 

Ongoing care

You will receive ongoing care for the treatment of your injuries. You may be discharged from the Major Trauma Centre or Trauma Unit and transferred to another hospital for ongoing care.

Rehabilitation

You will begin rehabilitation early in your patient journey. Your rehabilitation will be centred around your goals
and what matters to you.

Who will be looking after me?

Following Major Trauma, patients in the Scottish Borders will be looked after by a multi-disciplinary team. The
type and severity of your injuries will determine which health care professionals are involved in your care.

Your local Major Trauma Team consists of:

• Major Trauma Co-ordinator
• Doctors
• Nurses
• Clinical Psychologist
• Physiotherapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Dietitians
• Speech and Language Therapists

The Major Trauma NHS Borders Co-ordinator will be involved and responsible for co-ordinating your care in
hospital and supporting your discharge. They will also provide a link between different services involved in your care, both within the hospital and following discharge. They, with the rehab team, will support you and your family/relatives throughout your stay and following discharge.

After Trauma

The team will also provide you with options for practical support if needed. This may involve supporting you to
access social work services e.g benefits you are entitled to and support to help you with home adaptations.

The South East Trauma Network

The Scottish Trauma Network helps ensure patients who experience major trauma can get access to the right
care, in the right place, at the right time. The Major Trauma Centre at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is part of the wider South East Trauma Network, which provides care to the people living in the Lothians, Borders, Forth Valley and Fife.

The Borders General Hospital, Melrose, is classed as a Trauma Unit. If you are a Scottish Borders resident, and need acute care, you may be admitted to either the Major Trauma Centre of your local Trauma unit, depending on your injuries.

If you require ongoing inpatient rehabilitation, you may be transferred to an NHS Borders Community Hospital.

Useful Links/Resources

www.aftertrauma.org 
www.icusteps.org/ 
www.backuptrust.org.uk (Spinal Injury)
www.spinal.co.uk Spinal Injuries Association
www.headway.org.uk (Brain Injury)
www.shif.org Scottish Head Injuries Forum
www.sabin.scot.nhs.uk/ (Brain Injury)
www.dynamiccommunityfusion.co.uk/ (Brain Injury)
Saving Lives. Giving Life Back

Your key contacts:

Major Trauma Co-ordinator tel:0781 407 2124
BGH Rehab tel:01896 826545 and email: Borders.MajorTrauma@borders.scot.nhs.uk