title: Temporal variation in major trauma admissions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trauma is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the UK. Since the inception of the trauma networks, little is known of the temporal pattern of trauma admissions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Trauma Audit and Research Network data for 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013 were collated from two large major trauma centres (MTCs) in the South East of England: Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH) and St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (SGU). The number of admissions and the injury severity score by time of admission, by weekdays versus weekend and by month/season were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 1,223 admissions at BSUH and 1,241 at SGU. There was significant variation by time of admission; there were more admissions in the afternoons (BSUH p<0.001) and evenings (SGU p<0.001). There were proportionally more admissions at the weekends than on weekdays (BSUH p<0.001, SGU p=0.028). There was significant seasonal variation in admissions at BSUH (p<0.001) with more admissions in summer and autumn. No significant seasonal variation was observed at SGU (p=0.543).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The temporal patterns observed were different for each MTC with important implications for resource planning of trauma care. This study identified differing needs for different MTCs and resource planning should be individualised to the network.
authors.affiliation: Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust , UK.
authors.forename: W K M
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Kieffer
authors.affiliation: Brighton and Sussex Medical School, UK , UK.
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Michalik
authors.affiliation: Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust , UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, UK , UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: McFadyen
authors.affiliation: St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK , UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.affiliation: Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust , UK.|Brighton and Sussex Medical School, UK , UK.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Injury; Major trauma; Temporal variation