Transport of the trauma patient

The transport of the seriously injured patient is associated with risk and requires particular expertise and attention. The aim of this review is to provide a historical overview of transport services available to trauma patients in the UK, describe the various transport platforms that are used, identify risks from a system and disease perspective and how they may be mitigated, and make international comparisons. The transfer of patients requiring medical attention has developed over the years and now includes complex undertakings that undoubtedly confer a degree of risk on the patient. A number of different transport platforms are in regular use in the UK, and a number of different health-care professions of varying training, experience, and seniority undertake these transfers. The general principles are to provide no worse care en route than has been provided at the departure destination and to transport patients to a destination capable of delivering whichever intervention the patient is deemed to require. When deciding to transport an injured patient, there are risks, and appropriate mitigation must be in place, particularly if primary transfer to a major trauma centre involves bypassing a nearer facility. It is clear that those clinicians who undertake medical transfers must be appropriately trained and must have access to local or national guidelines. Medical transfers must be the subject of ongoing research, both to ensure that best practice is in place and to continue to understand the safest way of achieving essential transfers effectively.