Major Trauma Centre Anniversary
Royal Preston Hospital became a Major Trauma Centre (MTC) for Lancashire & South Cumbria in July 2012.
Since then, the Major Trauma Centre has treated more than 11,500 trauma patients, many with life changing and life-threatening injuries.
As the regional MTC, Royal Preston Hospital receives the most severely injured patients from across the Lancashire & South Cumbria region and provides critical, life saving treatment.
10 years on, we feature one life changing situation and what happened next.
Today we feature Charlotte and Jak.
In November 2018 Charlotte and Jak were returning from Charlotte’s university graduation ceremony when the car they were travelling in was struck by a 7.5 tonne HGV lorry.
Charlotte and Jak were restrained back seat passengers and sustained major trauma internal abdominal injuries whilst the front seat passengers, members of Charlotte’s family, were also injured and taken to hospital.
The vehicle was so severely damaged that the family had to be cut from the wreckage by the Lancashire Fire Service.
Charlotte and Jak were treated at the scene by the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and due to the severity of their injuries, were transported to Royal Preston Hospital as the regional Major Trauma Centre to for stabilisation and definitive treatment.
Both families were told Charlotte and Jak had life threatening and life changing injuries, with a low chance of survival.
Charlotte sustained serious multiple internal abdominal injuries (to the bowel), and injuries also to her chest, lungs, and spine.
Charlotte was in hospital for a total of 36 days.
She was admitted to Critical Care for 13 days, and the Major Trauma Ward for 18 days.
Jak sustained serious multiple abdominal injuries also in particular to the bowel.
Jak was in hospital for a total of 35 days; he was admitted to Critical Care for 3 days, and the Major Trauma Ward for 7 days.
As an incidental finding during an operation, Jak was found to have a cancerous tumour in his appendix which fortunately was identified and treated immediately.
Charlotte and Jak required intensive monitoring and care during their stay with input from multiple specialities and services.
The surgeons, nurses and AHPs (including physiotherapy, OT, and dietetics) all worked collaboratively in ensuring they both had the best possible recovery and outcome.
Although against the odds Charlotte and Jak miraculously overcame their initial injuries.
They are still recovering and have required further ongoing treatment.
Charlotte said: “We will be forever grateful to the wonderful staff at Royal Preston hospital, not only for all their expertise when dealing with our injuries, but also for their kindness and understanding during what has been a terrible time for us as a family.
It has been a while since our initial accident, but the severity of our injuries has unfortunately means that many of our problems will be long term.
Everybody has problems in life that are relative to them, but there are times when we do feel that our family have suffered beyond other’s comprehension”.
