These elements usually go against the expectations of the public and other agencies. They often think that Casualty Clearing Areas (areas set up for the treatment and assessment of patients at a scene) actively slowed down the evacuation of casualties to hospital. This is part of the intention of the system - initial treatment and stabilisation can be given and patients can be re-triaged regularly, in the background this also buys time for the receiving hospital/s to active their plans and be prepared for patients arriving. Much like the first people on scene, they don't treat anyone but make an assessment and get others to scene to do the "most for the most", the same is true for the hospitals!

The other purposes of Casualty Cleaning areas are:

• ensuring patients are transferred to appropriate or specialist facilities - reducing the need for secondary transfer

• holding P3 patients until hospitals are ready - sending P3 patients directly to hospital, clogs up the emergency department, it is often the case that P3s will be conveyed to hospitals (when needed) a fair distance from the incident location, to ease pressure on local hospital services