Two National Audit Office reports were published in February 2010. The first was highly critical of emergency healthcare delivery in England and highlighted the ways in which staffing and resource allocations could be areas that could have a negative impact on morbidity and mortality. The second report highlighted the significant positive impact that current military emergency care is making with focused training and development of all professionals contributing to the care delivery strategies. This article evaluates the two publications and emphasises on the contribution that appropriately educated, prepared and trained emergency nurses could make within the NHS context.
Beekley AC, Sebesta J., Blackhouse L., Herbert G., Kauvar D.2008. Pre-hospital tourniquet use in operation Iraqi Freedom: effect on haemorrhage control outcomes. J Trauma62: 28-37.
2.
Benner P.1984. From novice to expert: excellence and power in clinical nursing practice. London: Addison-Wesley .
3.
Brodie S., Hodgetts TJ, Ollerton J., McLoed J., Lambert P., Mahoney PF2007. Tourniquet use in combat trauma: UK military experience . J R Army Med Corps153: 310-13.
4.
Buchan J., Edwards N.2000. Nursing numbers in Britain: the argument for workforce planning. B M J320: 1067-70.
5.
Davenport RA, Tai N., West A., et al. 2010. A major trauma centre is a specialty hospital not a hospital of specialties. Br J Surg97: 109-17.
6.
Hodgetts TJ, Mahoney PF2009. Military pre-hospital care: why is it different?J R Army Med Corps155: 4-8.
Kant I.1999. Critique of pure reason (TheCambridge Edition). Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
9.
Kelly A., Sewell S.1988. With head heart and hand: dimensions of community building . 2nd edn. Brisbane QLD: Boolarong Publications.
10.
Kramer M.1974. Reality shock: why nurses are leaving nursing. St Louise: CV Mosby Co.
11.
National Audit Office (NAO).2010a. Major trauma care in England. Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General . HC213. Session 2009-2010. London: NAO.
12.
National Audit Office (NAO).2010b. Treating injury and illness arising from military operations. Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General. HC294. Session 2009-2010. London: NAO.
13.
Sbaih L.1997a. The work of accident and emergency nurses: part 1. An introduction to the rules. Accid Emerg Nurs5: 28-33.
14.
Sbaih L.1997b. The work of accident and emergency nurses: part 2. A&E maxims: making A&E work unique and special. Accid Emerg Nurs5: 81-87.
15.
Tan HB, Cross SF, Goodacre SW2005. Application of variable life adjusted display (VLAD) in early detection of deficiency in trauma care. Emerg Med J22: 726-28.
16.
Trauma Audit and Research Network. 2010. Available at: https://www.tarn.ac.uk (accessed 8 February 2010).
