AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after "higher than expected" death rates were recorded at a West of Scotland hospital.
A study involving thousands of patients admitted to accident and emergency units found patients were less likely to survive after being admitted to Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock.
Inverclyde recorded the lowest percentage of patients with serious head injuries who were given a CT scan within an hour, with 0% compliance in 2013 and less than 10% last year.
The hospital is carry out an internal review to establish if the higher death rates are due to chance or clinical practice.
Dr Chris Jones, Chief of Medicine for Clyde said a team of experienced trauma doctors were involved in a detailed review of all trauma deaths over 2013 and 2014.
He said no "significant failings" had been identified but some improvements were being made to services.
A total of 19 out of 32 hospitals with an Emergency Department (ED) submitted data for the Scottish Trauma Audit Group (STAG) report, covering 2013-2014.
Alcohol was involved in 1 in 5 of minor trauma patients, rising to 1 in 3 of major trauma patients. It was also a factor in 47% of "penetrating" injuries such as stab wounds.
In total, 6% of all trauma patients died in hospital and this mortality rate rose to around 1 in 5 (22%) or patients suffering major trauma.
Data on 5930 patients are included, of which 1278 are classified as major trauma.
Wishaw General recorded the worst rate for major trauma patients being seen by an A&E specialists within the hour. - around 10% of patients, around the same rates as Perth Royal Infirmary.
Men make up the majority of trauma patients (59%), and this rises to 70% for major trauma patients. A higher proportion of injuries to men were due to assault.
More than half (55%) of major trauma patients were “out of hours” arriving in A&E between 8pm and 8am or at the weekend.
The former Southern General hospital in Glasgow had the highest rate of patients being seen within an hour, at just over 80%.
The report recommended that all hospitals should contribute to further studies and that the study should be expanded to include paediatric trauma.
The Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow started collecting data in June 2015 - the first in Scotland to do so.
Dr Chris Jones, Chief of Medicine for Clyde said: “We take this issue very seriously and a team of experienced trauma clinicians have already undertaken a detailed review of all trauma patient deaths during 2013/14.
“Their findings are being examined in detail and I am fully reassured that no significant failings in trauma care have been indentified. However some areas for improvement were highlighted as part of this and these are being taken forward.
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“We have also put in place new systems for the review and monitoring of future trauma cases by a multidisciplinary group of specialists and all stages of the patient journey will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
“We remain fully committed to the continued delivery of safe, effective and person centred care for all trauma patients.”
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