Hospital trauma units across England on terror attack standby

by eddie Thu May 25, 2017 11:30 pm

NHS England advises surgical teams to review staffing after Manchester bomb and be ready for ballistic and blast injuries

Denis CampbellLast modified on Thursday 25 May 2017 22.00 BST

NHS hospital trauma units have been put on standby to deal with a potential fresh terrorist attack, possibly happening as soon as this weekend. The NHS has told every hospital in England, including the 27 that are specialist trauma centres, to “prepare for a further incident”.

Surgical teams must be ready to treat people who have been caught up in a bomb blast or hit by shrapnel as part of the measures triggered by the nationwide alert status being raised to critical.

It is the first time since the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 that NHS hospital trusts have been told to prepare for the possibility of a large-scale terrorist attack.

The message to the 27 trauma centres has come from Chris Moran, a surgeon and professor, who is NHS England’s national clinical director for trauma.

Moran said in the message: “The trauma community in Manchester has provided a tremendous response to the atrocity on Monday night and this is a credit to their dedication and clinical skills, and also the preparation that has taken place.

“You will be aware that we have a bank holiday weekend approaching. There are a number of things that all trauma units and major trauma centres can do to prepare for a further incident and I should be grateful if you could disseminate these within your network so that frontline clinicians are aware.”

The Health Service Journal, which obtained Moran’s message, reported: “The message advised surgical teams to prepare for the consequences of attacks by reviewing the early management of patients with blast and ballistic injuries, as well as advice on dealing with infections and use of antibiotics.”

NHS England said that all NHS trusts should be taking precautionary measures in the wake of the Manchester bombing.

A spokesman said: “Since the [Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre] has announced the threat level has changed from severe to critical, this triggers longstanding, tried and tested NHS protocols reflected in this letter, which reminds NHS organisations of the precautionary measures they need to take ensure care is in place should it be needed.”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/may/25/hospital-trauma-units-on-terror-attack-standby