Trauma studies. I. Metropolitan Sydney trauma data

A review of trauma statistics in metropolitan Sydney over a three-year period was undertaken. Data were obtained from the NSW Department of Health on hospital separations for trauma diagnoses for the two financial years 1985-1986 and 1988-1989 and from the Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales and the NSW Ambulance Service. Marked differences emerged in the pattern of overall trauma between the 1985-1986 and 1988-1989 periods, the most noteworthy being the reduction of teaching hospital separations both for total trauma and for transport related trauma which is responsible for the majority of serious injuries. The implementation of a State-wide policy for trauma services in New South Wales is now occurring. The information obtained from this study indicates that much of the baseline data used in formulating that policy were misleading. The policy of concentrating major trauma resources (level 3 trauma centres) in the eastern half of the city is found to be at odds with the finding of a high morbidity and mortality from transport related trauma in the western half of the city and the lack of such resources in that area.