IT'S already saved more than 100 lives – and Nottingham's pioneering major trauma centre is now set to expand.
For the past two years, the specialist unit at the Queen's Medical Centre has been giving seriously-injured patients – hurt in incidents like car crashes and sports accidents – a fighting chance of survival.
During that time, a total of 103 people who would have died without the centre's expertise have been saved.
Now, the centre has been expanded to cover the whole East Midlands, taking patients from Royal Derby Hospital, Burton Hospital and United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, including Boston's Pilgrim Hospital.
It already takes patients from Leicestershire, and Chesterfield Royal Hospital, as well as those from the city and county.
Experts say the expansion will mean they could see another 450 patients a year and save at least another 180 lives which might otherwise be lost.
Adam Brooks, head of the centre, said: "I'm incredibly proud of what the team has achieved over the last two years.
"It is really important that wherever someone is injured in the East Midlands, they can now access the best-quality care here at the QMC and the Major Trauma Centre."
One patient whose life was saved thanks to staff at the centre is Gary Topliss.
The 29-year-old was critically injured in a road smash near Mansfield Woodhouse, in which three others died.
He was so badly hurt that his heart stopped while medics worked to save him.
He knew nothing of the accident until he woke up six days later on Boxing Day 2013 with his family at his side.
Mr Topliss spent three weeks at the centre after breaking both his legs, an ankle, a shoulder and a cheekbone, and he needed life-saving operations on his stomach and bowel.
Now continuing his recovery back at his Mansfield home, he said he was thankful to be alive.
He said: "Anyone who was there at the centre that night, I cannot thank them enough."
