Great Western Hospital is to be a designated Trauma Unit in two regional Trauma Networks from next month.

Due to its geographical location, GWH will be part of both the Severn Network to the west and the Thames Valley Network to the north-east.

Trauma Networks are part of a national programme to improve the care of trauma patients in England, led by the Department of Health and Royal Colleges.

A multi-disciplinary team led by Mr Sunny Deo, clinical lead for trauma, successfully completed the designation process required by the Networks in January 2012.

Patients with complex needs will be treated at specialist MTCs, which are located in Bristol and Oxford. These centres have the comprehensive range of services available to optimise care for major trauma patients.

Ambulance crews may take major trauma patients direct to the MTCs or to GWH for stabilisation before transfer to the MTC.

Once patients have had the specialist care they require at the MTC, they will be repatriated to their local Trauma Unit for ongoing care and rehabilitation.

A separate protocol for paediatric patients is under development.

Chief executive Nerissa Vaughan said: “GWH has signed up to a number of standards in order to be part of the Network and must meet these from April.

“Work is ongoing across a number of different departments to ensure this happens.”