5 November 2026

A major programme bringing together teams from across Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) is strengthening care for trauma patients from the moment they arrive in hospital, through treatment and rehabilitation.

The work developed following an external peer review in 2023, which identified opportunities to further strengthen trauma care across the whole patient journey.

Since then, teams from across the hospital, senior leaders and colleagues from the wider trauma network have worked together to turn those opportunities into sustained changes in practice.

Trauma patients can include people injured in road collisions and other major incidents, as well as those hurt through falls, accidents at home or work, assaults and many other circumstances. Older and frail people also make up an important proportion of trauma patients, with existing health conditions, medicines and frailty all potentially affecting treatment and recovery.

Improvements include expanding trauma training, consolidating clinical guidance and audit, improving how trauma skills are reflected in workforce planning, and appointing a dedicated Trauma Rehabilitation Coordinator.

Ninety-seven per cent of the 58 standards set by the peer review have either been achieved or being actively progressed.

Dr Mohamed ‘Diab’ Ibrahim, Trust Major Trauma Lead and Specialist in Emergency Medicine, said: “Trauma care is not just about what happens when a patient first arrives in the Emergency Department – that is only the beginning of their journey.

“We need to make sure injuries are identified, patients receive the right care throughout their stay, rehabilitation starts at the right time, and they have the support they need to get back to their lives.”

Depending on their injuries, trauma patients may be cared for across different wards and specialties rather than in one dedicated area. The Trauma Rehabilitation Coordinator role was introduced to help provide continuity throughout that journey by identifying patients, coordinating their rehabilitation needs and supporting their move into specialist rehabilitation, community services or other appropriate care when they are medically ready.

Ed Robinson, Trauma Rehabilitation Coordinator, said: “An important part of my role is making sure trauma patients receive the right support wherever they are in the hospital and that their rehabilitation needs are identified as early as possible.

“We want that transition to be as smooth as possible, with patients and their families understanding the plan, what they are working towards and why a particular type of support is right for them.”

Dr Laurence Ginder, Associate Medical Director and Executive Sponsor for the programme, said: “Visible Executive support has been important because this was never work that one team could deliver alone. Trauma care involves many different departments and professional groups, so the programme needed clear accountability, dedicated support and the ability to bring people together around a shared goal.

“What has impressed me most is the focus on making improvements sustainable and part of day-to-day practice. At the heart of all of this is making sure every patient is treated as an individual, with kindness, compassion and respect, and that patients and families are listened to and involved in decisions about their care.”

The next phase of the programme will focus on further developing trauma education, improving the way trauma patients move through hospital and into the right care and support after discharge, and strengthening the way trauma teams and specialists in older people’s care work together to support frail and older patients.