Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, has launched the paediatric trauma programme, marking the full ramp up of the hospital’s paediatric emergency services.
By opening the trauma programme, Sidra Medicine is equipped and capable of providing care for all traumatised children.
These may include severe and life threatening injuries or illnesses including major motor vehicle accidents or pedestrian head injuries.
Sidra Medicine’s Trauma Programme is now part of a comprehensive Qatar Trauma System led by Hamad General Hospital.
By joining the system, Sidra Medicine will be the main paediatric trauma centre and care of the majority of major trauma patients (age 14 and below) in the country.
Parents or caregivers should continue to call 999 – for a child requiring life-saving treatment or immediate medical attention.
The child will be assessed by the first responder team from Qatar Ambulance Service who will now bring the majority of major trauma patients children aged 14 and below to Sidra Medicine.
Young trauma patients brought to Sidra Medicine by air or land ambulance are immediately evaluated and stabilised by a multidisciplinary trauma team of physicians, nurses and allied health professionals.
The patient will be given comprehensive multidisciplinary care from arrival to integration back into the family and community.
The activation of trauma programme marks months of preparedness and simulation training across all services in the hospital.
Dr Guy Brisseau, general and thoracic surgeon at Sidra Medicine said: “The launch of trauma is a truly integrated programme at Sidra Medicine where different multi-disciplinary services and teams have come together. We are immensely proud of the work our teams and partners have achieved to ensure that crucial emergency and trauma services are available for all children in Qatar. Our collaboration with Hamad Medical Corp and Qatar Ambulance Service is integral in ensuring that trauma cases are dealt with immediately and in the most efficient manner.”
The Sidra Medicine Children’s Emergency Department (CED) will be one of the key departments involved in the day to day functioning of the trauma programme and a key point of entry for the majority of trauma patients.
The CED is staffed by an experienced team of surgeons, physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and other healthcare specialists, all highly trained and certified in paediatric emergency care and trauma.
It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Prof Khalid al-Ansari, chair, Department of Emergency Medicine at Sidra Medicine and chair of Qatar’s Paediatric Emergency Services said: “Our CED is well prepared to receive multi-system trauma patients for both major and minor cases. With the launch of our trauma services, we are now in a position to provide the best care for children suffering from significant traumatic injuries. This is a key milestone for us, as July 2019 marks one year since our CED was opened. We are working very closely with Qatar Ambulance Service to ensure that the process is managed as smoothly as possible for level 1 and level 2 trauma patients up to the age of 14, whether they are coming in by land or air ambulance.”
Patients seen in the Children’s Emergency Department at Sidra Medicine for emergency or trauma care are not charged.
Their consultation and treatment charges are covered under Qatar’s national healthcare system.
