British Hospitals Ill Prepared for Major Incidents

Hospitals in the United Kingdom are poorly prepared to cope with a major incident despite recent terrorist events in London (UK), according to a new study.

Researchers from Wycombe Hospital (Buckinghamshire, UK) devised a questionnaire and then telephoned registrars in anesthesia, accident and emergency medicine, general surgery and trauma, and orthopedics to ask about their readiness to respond to a major incident. Major incident coordinators for each of the units were contacted, and their planning, readiness, training opportunities, and recent rehearsals were assessed.

A total of 179 registrars were contacted in 34 different units throughout Britain, and 144 responses were obtained. Sixty-eight registrars (47%) had not read the major incident plan of their hospital. Only 77 (54%) of the registrars questioned felt confident in the knowledge of their specific role during a major incident. Major-incident coordinators were contacted at 34 hospitals, but only 17 responses were obtained. Rehearsal of major incident plans varied widely among hospitals, with 82% of hospitals having practiced within the past five years, but only 35% were planning for a rehearsal in the next 12 months.

A quarter of the hospitals that responded did not hold any teaching on major-
incident planning at their introduction sessions for junior- and middle-grade doctors. Limitations to the improvement of major-incident planning included: lack of funds, lack of a designated full-time major incident coordinator, and lack of technology. There was no significant difference between units within London and those in other regions.

"Effective major-incident plans require forethought, organization, briefing of relevant staff, and regular rehearsal,” concluded Dr. K. Wong and colleagues. "Increased resources should be provided for this at a local level and more regular rehearsals undertaken to ensure our preparedness for future major incidents.”



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Wycombe Hospital