WEDNESDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2019

Photograph attached: Judith handing over a Christmas cake for the team. L-R Tricia Antoniewicz, ICU Liaison Nurse, Sarah Cant, Trauma Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Caroline Hutchison, Physiotherapist, Judith Lindsay and her husband, Kenny Lindsay

One Year On For Major Trauma Centre at Ninewells

The East of Scotland Major Trauma Centre at Ninewells Hospital has treated 145 patients with serious sustained injuries in its first year.

The Centre, which was opened by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in November 2018, was the second of its kind to open as part of the Scottish Trauma Network, which consists of four major trauma centres in Dundee, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

These centres host dedicated trauma services including rehabilitation support to help patients with significant injuries to recover more quickly.

Judith Lindsay was treated by the team in December 2018. She sustained life threatening and life changing injures following a head-on car collision. She spent two months in the East of Scotland Major Trauma Centre.

She said, “My memory as a patient is of an army of professionals who provided me with amazing care and encouragement to begin my recovery. Although it was an incredibly difficult time for me, they reminded me that the person I was before my injuries was still there.

“The skills, knowledge, compassion and dedication of the staff was phenomenal. The team consisted of various specialisms from Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy to medical and nursing staff.

“I have recently returned to work with NHS Fife and my life and family’s lives are now getting back to some normality. On behalf of myself, husband and family, we are so grateful for the love and support we received.”

Dr Michael Johnston, Clinical Lead for Major Trauma and Consultant in Emergency Medicine with NHS Tayside, said, “The Major Trauma Centre has helped us to change the way we treat patients. This new joined-up, multi-disciplinary approach to the patient journey has led to a better coordinated and seamless treatment pathway.

“This begins at the roadside and continues until the patient arrives at the Major Trauma Centre where the assembled hospital based trauma team is ready to receive them, right up until the patient is discharged.

“This is a new approach to trauma care, but one which is vital to enhancing patient recovery time. This is done by making sure that rehabilitation starts very early in the patient’s pathway of care.”