Injury trends and mortality in adult patients with major trauma in New South Wales

Stapleton, Stuart G; Bishop, Rod O; Mallows, James L

doi:10.5694/mja12.11485

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To the Editor: It is pleasing to see Curtis and colleagues report injury trends and mortality across New South Wales,1 but the data are old and precede major changes to the NSW trauma system. We are concerned that the conclusions of this study will be misapplied by policymakers, leading to unnecessary out-of-area transport of injured patients.

Nepean Hospital, Sydney, NSW.

Correspondence: james.mallows@swahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Acknowledgements:

We thank Ian Seppelt for helping to review the manuscript.

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

1. Curtis KA, Mitchell RJ, Chong SS, et al. Injury trends and mortality in adult patients with major trauma in New South Wales. Med J Aust 2012; 197: 233-237.
2. NSW Department of Health, Statewide Services Development Branch. Selected specialty and statewide service plans, number 6: NSW trauma services. Sydney: NSW Health, 2009.
3. NSW Department of Health. Report of the Greater Metropolitan Services Implementation Group. Sydney: NSW Health, 2001. http://www.itim.nsw.gov.au/images/d/db/GMSIG_June_2001_Report.pdf (accessed Apr 2013).
4. NSW Department of Health. Embracing change: report of the Greater Metropolitan Transition Taskforce. Sydney: NSW Health, 2004. http://www0.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2002/pdf/embracing_report.pdf (accessed Apr 2013).
5. New South Wales Institute of Trauma and Injury Management. NSW trauma minimum data set. 2003 annual report. Sydney: NSW Health, 2003. http://www.itim.nsw.gov.au/images/8/87/TraumaAR2003.pdf (accessed Apr 2013).
6. Cameron PA, Gabbe BJ, Cooper DJ, et al. A statewide system of trauma care in Victoria: effect on patient survival. Med J Aust 2008; 189: 546-550.
7. Cudnik MT, Sayre MR, Hiestand B, Steinberg SM. Are all trauma centres created equally? A Statewide Analysis. Acad Emerg Med 2010; 17: 701-708.
8. Dinh MM, Oliver M, Bein KJ, et al. Performance of the New South Wales Ambulance Service major trauma transport protocol (T1) at an inner city trauma centre. Emerg Med Australas 2012; 24: 401-407.

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