Up to six lives could be saved every year in Otago and Southland through planned changes to trauma care, Dunedin intensive care specialist Mike Hunter says. Mr Hunter will head a new Southern Trauma Service tasked with improving care for patients with multiple injuries, the Southern District Health Board announced. Mr Hunter said international evidence about trauma care "surprises everyone who sees it". "We now know that when care is better co-ordinated, the potential for saving lives is alarmingly high," Mr Hunter said in a press release. Mr Hunter said trauma care was traditionally organised by major organ, with a specialist team for each.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 14, 2017 17:03 UTC