Article Text
Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to review patients conveyed by the Great Western Air Ambulance to its main receiving hospital.
Methods Retrospective data were collected for all patients transferred to Frenchay Hospital by the Great Western Air Ambulance between 1 June 2008 and 1 March 2010.
Results 115 patients were included in the review. Patients were conveyed up to 85 km, 79% bypassing the closest emergency department (ED). 51% of these patients had major trauma and 35% were intubated at the scene. On arrival, the mean time to CT scan was 78 min, reduced to 63 min for those with a head injury. 16% of patients were discharged from the ED.
Conclusions This review provides an overview of the characteristics of patients transferred to a major receiving hospital by a prehospital critical care team.
- Clinical audit, prehospital, emergency care, aircraft, trauma
- audit
- critical care transport
- helicopter retrieval
- prehospital care
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Footnotes
Competing interests None.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.