l Volume 02 / Issue 03 / August 2014 l boa.ac.uk l Page 09
Wider News & Developments Latest reports and policies
Kumar Das
MBE for BOA Member We are delighted to report that BOA member Dr Kumarendra Das has been awarded an MBE for services to trauma and orthopaedic surgery. Dr Das is an Associate Specialist in Trauma and Orthopaedics at Friarage Hospital in North Yorkshire. Prof Tim Briggs commended Dr Das on this achievement, commenting “It is a pleasure to see a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon being recognised in this way. We are particularly delighted to see such awards go to a BOA member, as it enhances the reputation of orthopaedics and underscores the excellent service commitment of our members.” Congratulations to Dr Das from all at the BOA.
JTO readers may be interested in the following recently released documents relevant to our profession. • The Department of Health has published a review of the workings of the payment by results scheme (the “tariff”): www.gov.uk/government/ publications/payment-byresults-costing-in-the-nhs • The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has issued guidance on the issue of named consultants, ‘Guidance for Taking Responsibility: Accountable Clinicians and Informed Patients’: www.aomrc.org.uk/ doc_download/9765-takingresponsibility In other news: Sarah Wollaston, the Conservative MP for Totnes and a former GP, has been elected as the new chair of the House of Commons Health Committee, succeeding Stephen Dorrell.
Consultant outcomes publication – 2014 As mentioned in the previous issue, the consultant outcomes publication initiative will this year cover not only hip and knee replacements, but also ankle, shoulder and elbow replacements – all based on data from the National Joint Registry. For more information about what will be published this year, you can view the Consultant Outcome Publication pages on the NJR website: www.njrcentre.org.uk. By the time this issue of the JTO is published, the data validation period will have closed, and the final data will be in preparation for the launch, which has now been brought forward to the end of September. During September, there will be an opportunity for surgeons to provide additional information in certain fields to accompany the publication of their results. All surgeons in scope for the initiative this year should note that there will be a limited window for providing this additional information and the BOA will keep members updated on this.
Success for MTCs as a significant reduction in mortality rates announced Figures released by the Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN) have shown that since the introduction of regional Major Trauma Centres (MTCs), patients in England have a 30% greater chance of surviving severe injuries. Survival rates have improved as a result of patients with the most serious injuries being taken straight to specialist teams who have the knowledge to treat such injuries. Since their inception in 2012 the 25 MTCs across England have saved an estimated 600 extra lives, as well as helping thousands of patients to walk away from severe injuries without major disability. NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens has praised the performance of MTCs saying, “this is a major success story - more people are surviving serious injuries because they are taken straight to specialist trauma teams who identify life-threatening problems quicker and perform life-saving operations earlier. That’s about 600 fewer lives cut short, 600 fewer bereaved families.”