Pre-hospital care and triage in the UK

Pre-hospital trauma care is a growing specialty that specifically aims to reduce the morbidity and mortality related to trauma by providing early specialist intervention; it is very distinct from triage. ‘Triage’ is the allocating of aid on the basis of the need for, or likely benefit from, medical treatment. It is classically used in the Accident and Emergency Department and in major incident situations where patients must be ordered. A less accurate definition of triage refers to deciding where a patient is best disposed (e.g. a patient with a head injury should probably be triaged to a Neurosurgical Trauma Centre). Pre-hospital care comprises many interventions to preserve life and reduce morbidity. Triage to hospital is the relatively small component of pre-hospital care that is done after these interventions. Triage at a major incident is a small part of how that incident is managed. This contribution explains some of the roles of pre-hospital care and interventions that such a service can provide as an extension to local ambulance services.