Tony Ryall

Wellington, March 16 NZPA - Health Minister Tony Ryall today launched the country's first regional trauma system at Waikato Hospital, saying it was expected to save up to 21 lives across the Midland region every year.

It is a clinical programme that links multiple services across the region with the goal of providing the best care leading to the best results for trauma patients and their families.

Mr Ryall said trauma injuries were the leading cause of death in the first 50 years of life, and trauma patients with multiple injuries were a very vulnerable group with complex needs.

Dedicated trauma teams are being established in all Midland district health boards -- Tairawhiti, Bay of Plenty, Lakes and Taranaki following the Waikato initiative.

Waikato Hospital has been using its system for several years and Mr Ryall said it had saved about 14 lives each year.

"Waikato has halved the mortality rate of its severe trauma patients over the past years...the mortality rate for all trauma is now 0.9 percent," he said.

Mr Ryall said it was hoped the system would provide a potential template for further regional systems and for a new national approach to trauma care.