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Impact of London's Terrorist Attacks on a Major Trauma Center in London

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Aso B. Mohammed*
Affiliation:
Senior House Officer, Trauma and Orthopedics, Royal London Hospital, London, UK
Haroon A. Mann
Affiliation:
Specialist Registrar, Trauma and Orthopedics, Royal London Hospital, London, UK
Danyal H. Nawabi
Affiliation:
Trauma Fellow, Trauma and Orthopedics, Royal London Hospital, London, UK
Davis W. Goodier
Affiliation:
Consultant, Trauma and Orthopedics, Royal London Hospital, London, UK
Swee C. Ang
Affiliation:
Consultant, Trauma and Orthopedics, Royal London Hospital, London, UK
*
9 Brent Court Compton Avenue Gidea Park Essex RM2 6EU England E-mail: asobm@hotmail.com

Abstract

During the morning rush hour on Thursday, 07 July 2005, a series of four bombs exploded, affecting London's public transport system.These terrorist attacks killed 52 people and injured >700.A majorincident was declared, and the Royal London Hospital (RLH) was a primary receiving hospital.

A total of 194 patients presented to the RLH.Twenty-seven patients required admission. A total of 11 amputations were performed on eight patients. One patient died intra-operatively.Another patient died on Day 6 due to complications related to a head injury.

Coordination is vital to the implementation of the hospital's Major Incident Plan in such an emergency. Subsequent internal reviews of the response of the RLH on 07 July 2005 highlighted problems with communication and documentation, as well as the need for extra staffing.These areas should be improved for the management of future major incidents.

Type
Special Report
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2006

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