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Delays in NSW paediatric trauma retrieval

Getting it Right in Pediatric Trauma Inter-Hospital Retrieval: Experience of a Pediatric Specialist Team in New South Wales, Australia
Air Medical Journal · 2026-10 · Added 16 October 2026

Ten-year review of paediatric trauma retrievals by NSW's specialist paediatric transport service found helicopter launch times worsened after 2017 operational changes and teams took over 10 minutes to depart the referring hospital in 80% of missions.

Study type

Cohort

Design

Retrospective observational study

Participants

Children aged 0–15 retrieved by NETS NSW to paediatric trauma centres, 2010–2019 (number not reported)

Main finding

Median team departure from base was 10 minutes by day and 17 at night; time from team departure to helicopter launch worsened from a median of 17 minutes (epoch 1) to 30 (epoch 2, p = .03), and 80% of missions took >10 minutes to leave after stabilisation

Caveat

Single-service retrospective operational data ending in 2019, with no patient outcomes reported

Bottom line

Context only

Learning goal

Understand how system and coordination factors contribute to delays in paediatric trauma inter-hospital retrieval.

More

• Topic: Paediatrics
• Daily scan: 16 October 2026
• Podcast: Paramedic Papers Daily, 16 October 2026

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