Out of Network Repatriation

The West Yorkshire Major Trauma Network operates in line with the national guidance on network to network repatriation with a few minor amendments. The principles are:

• Patients should be transferred to an appropriate healthcare provider as close to their home as possible within 48 hours of clinical agreement of appropriateness for transfer.
• Clinician to clinician referral is necessary with both parties agreeing that the patient is clinically fit for transfer.
• If MTC to TU repatriation is not felt appropriate the patient should be transferred MTC to MTC.
• Transfers should take place within normal working hours.
• Full clinical summary if injuries, treatments, imaging and rehab needs must accompany the patient. 
• Patients should be transferred to an identified suitable inpatient bed and only come via the MTC / TU Emergency Department if there is an immediate clinical need (eg deterioration during transfer). 
• The process for escalation in the event of delay is as follows:
  • 24 hours: Referring site team to communicate with receiving hospital team. At the MTC this will be the major trauma specialist nurse (24/7).
  • 48 hours: Trauma Clinical and Managerial Leads of referring and receiving hospital liaise to resolve issues. At the MTC this will be Mr N Kanakaris, Clinical Lead for Major Trauma and Tracey Mason, General Manager for Trauma and Related Services.
  • 72 hours: Inform Deputy Chief Operating Officer at MTC or equivalent at TU. Inform WYMTN Network Manger (Tina Wall) or Network Clinical Lead (Jonathan Jones) via LTHT switchboard.
  • 4 days: Referring organisation Medical Director to contact receiving organisation opposite number - at MTC: David Berridge, Medical Director (Ops) or Yvette Oade (Chief Medical Officer)
  • If still no plan at 5 days NHS England should be informed whilst discussions between relevant organisations continue.
  • No transfer of a patient should occur without acceptance by the receiving organisation ie a unilateral decision to transfer the patient to the intended receiving hospitals Emergency Department is unacceptable.