We have joined forces with the Lancashire Evening Post to raise £500,000 to buy a state of the art CT scanner for our new trauma centre.
When patients with serious life and limb threatening injuries are diagnosed and treated quickly they are more likely to recover and less likely to experience long term ill health or disability.
A new CT scanner for the major trauma centre will enable the specialist trauma team to get a full body scan of the patient as they arrive, ensuring quick and accurate diagnosis and delivery of the right treatment immediately.
Andy Curran, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Trauma Lead
What is major trauma?
Major trauma is serious or multiple injuries that could result in death or significant disability, and is usually caused by accident or violence.
10,000 people die following injury every year in England and Wales. Injury is the leading cause of death among children and adults aged 44 and below, and there are many millions of non-fatal injuries each year.
Around 500 major trauma patients are treated in hospitals in Lancashire and South Cumbria every year.
The NHS estimates that between 450 and 600 lives per year across the country could be saved by providing better organised trauma care.
Treatment of major trauma
Historically the initial treatment of major trauma has been provided by hospital emergency departments, which undertake the initial assessment, arrange diagnostics such as scans and x rays, and involve other specialists as appropriate.
Major trauma patients who receive the right treatment in the critical period 
following injury are more likely to survive, and less likely to experience long term ill health or disability.
The most effective way to ensure major trauma patients receive the care they need within the critical period is to provide immediate and co-ordinated treatment by a multi-disciplinary team. This enables a comprehensive assessment to be undertaken immediately, a range of interventions to commence simultaneously, and ultimately for life and limb saving treatment to be delivered promptly.
Trauma centre and network
Because major trauma is most effectively treated by specialists who have regular experience of dealing with significant and multiple injuries, and because major trauma is relatively uncommon, the Department of Health is in the process of establishing trauma networks. Trauma networks will operate on a regional basis, with hospital emergency departments continuing to provide care for the vast majority of patients who have sustained injuries, and major trauma patients being transferred to the network’s trauma centre where they will receive treatment from an experienced multi-disciplinary trauma team.
The multi-disciplinary trauma team comprises specialists from the emergency, orthopaedics, anaesthetics, surgery and radiology departments. Other specialists become involved as necessary, including paediatrics, neurosurgery and plastics. Where amputation is a consideration the rehabilitation service provides advice to ensure the trauma patient has the best possible chance to resume life as normal after recovery.
Trauma in Lancashire and South Cumbria
Trusts across Lancashire and South Cumbria have been working together to develop a trauma network, with Royal Preston Hospital as the network’s designated trauma centre.
Emergency Department at Royal Preston HospitalRoyal Preston Hospital is considered to be an appropriate setting for the trauma centre because it has an established and high performing emergency department; it provides the region’s services for a number of specialisms often required for good trauma care including neurosurgery, plastics and rehabilitation services; and it is well placed geographically with good motorway access.
How to donate money
text LSVR12 with the amount you wish to donate to 70070
You can donate money online via the JustGiving website
By cheque
Send a cheque made payable to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, with reference Charitable Fund DI05 on the back of the cheque to :
LEP Life Saver Appeal (D105)
General Office
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Preston Hospital
Sharoe Green Lane
Fulwood
Preston
PR2 9HT
By cash
Give cash with a note saying it’s for LEP Life Saver Appeal Charitable Fund DI05 to the general office in both Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley & South Ribble Hospital.
Gift aid
If you are a UK taxpayer you can request that your donation to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust be accepted under the Gift Aid scheme. Simply fill in the Gift Aid form and submit it with you donation.
How you can help
Fundraising ideas can be found at How2Fundraise.
Our information leaflet also has fundraising ideas and guidance.
Fundraising resources
For more information log onto JustGiving or the Lancashire Evening Post.
Contact Paula Richardson, Fundraising Manager paula.richardson@lthtr.nhs.uk or ring 01772 522391 for more information about fundraising or the appeal.
Ring Aasma Day, Health Reporter, Lancashire Evening Post via email aasma.day@lep.co.uk or ring 01772 838105 to promote your fundraising activities.
Charity details
The LEP Lifesaver Appeal is a Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust charitable fund, registered charity number 1051194.
