Day One Trauma Support

Who we are

Day One is a young, ambitious national charity dedicated to supporting people impacted by serious or multiple injuries which could result in life changing consequences such as disability or death, referred to in the NHS as Major Trauma.  We provide practical, emotional and financial support to adults and children as well as their families and loved ones.  Inspired ‘by patients for patients’ our vision is that no one has to piece life back together on their own after catastrophic injury.

We work alongside NHS clinical colleagues in Major Trauma Centres (primarily in the North of England), delivering support at the bedside in the aftermath of a major trauma, and across trauma networks providing a remote service through our National Offer. 

Our work is underpinned by understanding the ‘lived experience’ of people affected by their injuries and the significant trauma they have faced, and consequently, our championing of patient voice, influence and participation, along with being accessible to anyone in the UK at any stage of their recovery journey differentiates us from other signposting services in trauma care.  

With good networks, a growing base of supporters and a passionate team of staff and volunteers, we are making a real difference to people at a time when they are extremely vulnerable and need rapid access to a range of practical and emotional support interventions.

Our ambition

Our ambition is to roll out our proven model of support to all other 27 Major Trauma Networks and to have a presence in every Major Trauma Centre in the UK, ensuring that every patient affected by major traumatic injury can benefit from the advice and support they may need to embark on and improve their recovery journey. Our ambition includes creating a national network of Peer Supporters, a virtual community of people with ‘lived experience’ of major trauma who can provide a source of hope and inspiration to each other, as well as help inform improvements in NHS clinical care.

Our History

Professor Giannoudis recognised that the formal review led by NHS England and subsequent configuration of NHS Major Trauma Centres in the UK in 2010, had a hugely positive effect on clinical care and outcomes for major trauma. However, based on time listening to his patients, Professor Giannoudis also recognised there were still significant gaps in the support, care and guidance that patients and their families need in the aftermath of major trauma. Help they would need to be able to recover and move forward positively with their lives.

The charity was developed with the help of a number of committed, former patients of Professor Giannoudis, all of whom helped shape the charity, and many of whom continue to be involved today as Volunteer Peer Supporters, fundraisers, and champions.

Day One began in Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, at the Leeds General Infirmary, where Professor Giannoudis works as a Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon. On 1st May 2021 Day One became an independent registered national charity, allowing it to embark on ambitious plans for expansion of services to other Major Trauma Centres in the UK and beyond.