Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021
712. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the rationale for locating the major trauma centre at the Mater Hospital contrary to best international practice of co-locating major trauma centres with neurological centres. [46251/21]
View answerThe National Trauma Strategy, A Trauma System for Ireland, published in February 2018, recommended the introduction of an inclusive trauma system, that will be delivered by two regional networks, each with a Major Trauma Centre that is linked to a number of Trauma Units. Services will be networked and co-ordinated along standardised pathways to ensure that the right care is delivered in the right place at the right time.
Before recommending the designation of the Mater Hospital as the Major Trauma Centre for the Central Trauma Network, the Health Service Executive (HSE) undertook a clear and objective process to inform the recommendation for the designation. This included the appointment of an Independent Assessment Panel, containing members expert in the retrieval and acute management of trauma patients, including those patients with head injuries. The panel used a designation framework, which included service specifications and criteria to assess submissions from Hospital Groups. This Framework had been subject to a public consultation, which allowed the HSE to meet with key stakeholders and gave interested parties an opportunity to seek further clarity on the service specifications and the designation criteria. The recommendation to designate the Mater Hospital as the Major Trauma Centre for the Central Trauma Network was approved by Government in April 2021.
The clear objective of the National Trauma Strategy is for all trauma patients to access the treatments they need in a timely manner. This will be possible through the establishment of two Major Trauma Centres that have all trauma specialties, including neurosurgery. The availability of all trauma specialties in one hospital will create very significant benefits for patients, including a reduced need for a secondary transfer, as well as reduced waiting times between sequential surgeries. As such, the National Trauma Office in the HSE is engaging closely with neurosurgeons with a view to them assisting in the planning of neurosurgical services in the Major Trauma Centre.
