About Us

The Cheshire & Mersey Major Trauma Operational Delivery Network (CMMTN) became operational with a phased implementation on June 11th 2012 and all hospitals had joined the network by 1st October 2012. Since implementation the Network has been in top three best performing networks in the UK. 

Major trauma means multiple, serious injuries that could result in death or serious disability. These might include serious head injuries, severe gunshot wounds or road traffic accidents. These sorts of injury are actually quite rare and most hospital emergency departments see fewer than one case of major trauma each week.

All patients who suffer a serious injury are now taken to a single receiving site at Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. In the case of children, patients are to be taken to the children’s major trauma centre at Alder Hey Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

If patients cannot be safely transported to a major trauma centre within 45 minutes, or if their condition is not stable enough to allow travel safely, they will be taken to their nearest trauma unit. These Trauma Units form the spokes of the network and all have had to meet regional standards to be designated as Trauma Units.

The Major Trauma Centre and the Trauma Units undergo an annual peer review by outside experts, the results of which are available on the national major trauma website www.tquins.nhs.uk/

The treatment of patients who have suffered serious injury does not stop with their surgery. Many will require a period of rehabilitation which may last many months. Rehabilitation services across the UK have been underfunded and the establishment of the Major Trauma Network allowed a focus on what rehabilitation services were required in Cheshire and Merseyside. Investment has allowed the appointment of rehabilitation specialists and new facilities to be developed. Level one facilities, for those with most need, are based at the Walton centre and a program of expansion and improvement is well underway to enhance the care delivered here. Level two services have been developed at Broadgreen hospital and St Helens hospital and are now fully operational. The national peer review in 2016 noted that rehabilitation services in Cheshire and Merseyside are amongst the best in the country.

CMODN Newsletter