Lay summary
Injury is a major cause of premature death in NZ. Injury outcomes are time-sensitive with many deaths occurring prehospital (at the scene/in transit). Rapid access to advanced hospital level care is critical to increasing severely injured patients’ chance of survival. Analysis of Otago and Southland data suggests up to 45% of prehospital injury deaths are potentially survivable. This project aims to 1) describe the location and circumstance of prehospital injury deaths and calculate preventability; 2) estimate the proportion of the population who have timely emergency access to advanced level hospital care; and 3) examine the location of prehospital injury deaths in relation to their emergency access to advanced hospital level care. To achieve this, we will analyse administrative datasets and use geospatial modelling. The findings will identify opportunities to optimise prehospital emergency service provision and to improve serious injury outcomes.