Prime Minister’s boost to road safety
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull toured The Alfred on Monday to announce new funding for the Australian Trauma Registry.
Visiting with the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Sussan Ley and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester, the Government announced a $450,000 commitment to grow the registry over three years.
“We are working very hard with the police, (and) with great clinicians like those here at The Alfred, to ensure that road accidents are minimised and, when they do occur, the treatment is swift and effective,” Prime Minister Turnbull said.
The Alfred’s Director of Trauma Services and the National Trauma Research Institute, Prof Mark Fitzgerald said the funding provided will assist the development of an integrated Australian National Trauma System.
“It well help build capacity, allow centres to compare and improve patient outcomes and provide necessary information to state and federal governments via a purpose built, dedicated, secure database,” Prof Fitzgerald said. “The end result will be fewer deaths and improved independence of those severely injured.”
The Australian Government funding complements a total in-kind contribution of $1.85 million from participating hospital sites, and a $50,000 contribution from The Alfred Foundation.
The registry currently tracks major injuries in Australia – road trauma (including motor vehicles, pedestrian and cyclists), major falls, gunshot wounds, and stabbings.
The data is from Australia’s major hospital trauma centres.
