New trauma centres saving hundreds of extra lives

More than 100 extra lives will be saved every year in London's super accident and emergency units, official figures reveal today.

Within six months of three major trauma centres opening, at least 37 more people survived than normally expected.

Yesterday a fourth unit was launched to help provide care for the 1,600 patients most severely hurt in knife attacks and other serious incidents every year.

A report to be published by the capital's main health authority will show that 10 patients a day are treated in the centres, with people taken to the sites by ambulances in under 14 minutes on average. Evidence shows those treated in major trauma centres have a 25 per cent higher survival rate than the national average.

Three units were opened in April at The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, St George's Hospital, Tooting, and King's College Hospital in Denmark Hill. The fourth is at St Mary's in Paddington.