Audit and outcomes

Te Tāhū Hauora developed an audit tool to identify cases where patients with sTBI were not transferred to a neuroscience centre within the recommended 24 hours per agreed protocols. The audit was launched alongside the action plan and regional care pathways, and we continue to monitor responses as they are submitted. 

2024 summary:

The greatest contributing factor resulting in deviation from the acute sTBI pathways for 2024 was the diagnosis of a non-survivable TBI where it was felt to be more appropriate to remain in the non-neuroscience centre for palliation. 
Other reasons for pathway deviation include lack of an ICU bed at the receiving neuroscience centre, weather conditions affecting air transport and the neurosurgical service declining to accept a patient based on additional clinical criteria. 
The length of stay at the non-neuroscience centre for these patients ranged from <1 day through to 3 days.  
 
As we had less than 10 audit responses for 2024, we are unable to provide information at a hospital or regional level to preserve patient confidentiality. 
 
We will continue to monitor non-adherence to the acute TBI pathways in 2025 and investigate ways to improve and strengthen systems across Aotearoa.