999 care shake-up 'will save 500 lives a year'

Casualty patients will be graded before they are taken to hospital to speed up their treatment in an overhaul of emergency care in London.

The more severely injured patients will receive treatment at 24-hour emergency "supercentres" while less serious cases will go to their local A&E departments.

The £12million scheme, which will create the largest trauma system of its kind in the world, should save 500 lives a year, according to Healthcare for London.

Four key sites will handle victims of serious incidents such as gun crime and traffic accidents.

The centres have been named as St Mary's in Paddington, the Royal London in Whitechapel, St George's in Tooting and King's College in Denmark Hill.

Specialists there will also perform emergency brain surgery and complex bone operations. Local A&E units will handle the "walking wounded".

Currently most major trauma cases are sent to the nearest A&E where doctors may not have the expertise to treat them.

London's new trauma czar Dr Fionna Moore, 59, said that about 1,600 patients a year will receive care at the new centres.

The remaining 3,500 patients a year with less serious injuries will be treated at local emergency units.

Anyone injured in an accident or serious fall will be assessed at the scene by ambulance crews.

Dr Moore, medical director of London Ambulance Service which handled emergency care for victims of the 7/7 bombings, said the system would revolutionise care.

"This is not just about saving lives. It's about improving outcomes for patients and learning how to stop injuries happening."

But patient groups say people living in north-west London especially will face long journeys.

The first phase of the new system will be up and running by April.