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NHS learns lessons of war NHS learns lessons of war
(about 2 hours later)
By Ray Furlong Radio 4's PM programme It is almost pandemonium the first couple of times because there is such a deluge of really severe casualties Duncan Phimister, former field hospital commanderBy Ray Furlong Radio 4's PM programme It is almost pandemonium the first couple of times because there is such a deluge of really severe casualties Duncan Phimister, former field hospital commander
Territorial Army medical personnel who have served in Afghanistan are now using key techniques they learned there to help save lives in the NHS.Territorial Army medical personnel who have served in Afghanistan are now using key techniques they learned there to help save lives in the NHS.
Adam Brooks works a red, gooey gel into his hands and rubs them hard under the warm flow of water.Adam Brooks works a red, gooey gel into his hands and rubs them hard under the warm flow of water.
A consultant trauma surgeon at Queen's Medical Centre hospital in Nottingham, he is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, and spent the summer treating battlefield injuries at Camp Bastion, in Helmand province.A consultant trauma surgeon at Queen's Medical Centre hospital in Nottingham, he is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, and spent the summer treating battlefield injuries at Camp Bastion, in Helmand province.
"Here we are looking after people from motor vehicle crashes, while there we were looking after people who have been hit by roadside bombs."Here we are looking after people from motor vehicle crashes, while there we were looking after people who have been hit by roadside bombs.
"But they are all injured and they need a similar sort of approach," he explained."But they are all injured and they need a similar sort of approach," he explained.
"The experience I have had, that we have brought back to Nottingham, is saving lives."The experience I have had, that we have brought back to Nottingham, is saving lives.
"We're improving people's care," he said."We're improving people's care," he said.
Shortly after talking to me, Lt Col Brooks begins a six-hour operation to remove cancerous tissue from a patient's liver.Shortly after talking to me, Lt Col Brooks begins a six-hour operation to remove cancerous tissue from a patient's liver.
It is very different from bomb and bullet wounds, but even here, lessons from Afghanistan can make a difference.It is very different from bomb and bullet wounds, but even here, lessons from Afghanistan can make a difference.
They spend six weeks out there, the equivalent to about five years within an average NHS trauma unit Matron Moira Kane: "I would dearly like to go back to Afghanistan"
"Some of the techniques we have learnt and developed within the military can be transposed across, even to the elective, non-trauma work I'm doing - specifically looking at how we transfuse blood, the volumes that we use, and the products that we use," Lt Col Brooks said."Some of the techniques we have learnt and developed within the military can be transposed across, even to the elective, non-trauma work I'm doing - specifically looking at how we transfuse blood, the volumes that we use, and the products that we use," Lt Col Brooks said.
David Willis, a paramedic who has served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Northern Ireland during the troubles, has also learned similar lessonsDavid Willis, a paramedic who has served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Northern Ireland during the troubles, has also learned similar lessons
He said: "We use a lot of warm blood products and keep our patients warm, even in the heat of Afghanistan, and it helps their recovery.He said: "We use a lot of warm blood products and keep our patients warm, even in the heat of Afghanistan, and it helps their recovery.
"So hopefully we'll take that on board and keep our patients warm here too - even on a hot summer's day.""So hopefully we'll take that on board and keep our patients warm here too - even on a hot summer's day."
Moira Kane, matron on A&E and two other wards at George Elliott Hospital in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, served alongside Lt Col Brooks in Afghanistan.Moira Kane, matron on A&E and two other wards at George Elliott Hospital in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, served alongside Lt Col Brooks in Afghanistan.
She commanded the emergency department at Camp Bastion during operation Panther's Claw, when fighting was at its most intense.She commanded the emergency department at Camp Bastion during operation Panther's Claw, when fighting was at its most intense.
She said it gave a massive boost to her abilities to lead and organise her teams.She said it gave a massive boost to her abilities to lead and organise her teams.
"The doctor spends six weeks out there, and they said that was equivalent to about five years within an average NHS trauma unit."The doctor spends six weeks out there, and they said that was equivalent to about five years within an average NHS trauma unit.
Camp Bastion hospital staff have to deal with large numbers of casualtiesCamp Bastion hospital staff have to deal with large numbers of casualties
"It's probably about the same for us. It is incredible."It's probably about the same for us. It is incredible.
"But you get these soldiers in at eight to 12 at a time, whereas here, if someone comes off a motorbike, you get only one patient," she said."But you get these soldiers in at eight to 12 at a time, whereas here, if someone comes off a motorbike, you get only one patient," she said.
The steep learning curve is also underlined by Duncan Phimister. Now retired, he commanded 202 Field Hospital - Moira Kane's unit - during its last Afghan tour.The steep learning curve is also underlined by Duncan Phimister. Now retired, he commanded 202 Field Hospital - Moira Kane's unit - during its last Afghan tour.
"There are casualties coming into the hospital and it is almost pandemonium the first couple of times because there is such a deluge of really severe casualties."There are casualties coming into the hospital and it is almost pandemonium the first couple of times because there is such a deluge of really severe casualties.
"But you can see people growing, developing, and dealing with these situations as if they are normal almost within a few weeks," Mr Phimister said."But you can see people growing, developing, and dealing with these situations as if they are normal almost within a few weeks," Mr Phimister said.
During her time at Bastion, Moira Kane did not have a single day off. She said it had been hard to adjust to work back in Nuneaton.During her time at Bastion, Moira Kane did not have a single day off. She said it had been hard to adjust to work back in Nuneaton.
"It's a little frustrating initially, because there you have a military ethos and a rank structure, so if you ask for something to be done it invariably gets done."It's a little frustrating initially, because there you have a military ethos and a rank structure, so if you ask for something to be done it invariably gets done.
"Within the NHS, that is not quite so."Within the NHS, that is not quite so.
"I can't demand staff do something - though they sometimes think I do, I'm sure," Moira said."I can't demand staff do something - though they sometimes think I do, I'm sure," Moira said.
Medics say blood transfusion lessons have enhanced their work for the NHSMedics say blood transfusion lessons have enhanced their work for the NHS
Roughly about 100 NHS staff have passed through Camp Bastion this year, at times making up two-thirds of the medical personnel there.Roughly about 100 NHS staff have passed through Camp Bastion this year, at times making up two-thirds of the medical personnel there.
Peter Barrett, chairman of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said reservists were a valuable resource which the NHS was not doing enough to make use of.Peter Barrett, chairman of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said reservists were a valuable resource which the NHS was not doing enough to make use of.
"These are very special people."These are very special people.
"The teamwork, the skills, the environment in which they work gives them enormous benefits to the NHS when they come back and I think we're patchy about picking that up," he said."The teamwork, the skills, the environment in which they work gives them enormous benefits to the NHS when they come back and I think we're patchy about picking that up," he said.
"The reservists are quite reserved themselves in blowing their own trumpets when they come back."The reservists are quite reserved themselves in blowing their own trumpets when they come back.
"Often they just want to keep their heads down and get on with the day job. I think we have got a lot to learn really. We should celebrate what they have experienced and use those experiences.""Often they just want to keep their heads down and get on with the day job. I think we have got a lot to learn really. We should celebrate what they have experienced and use those experiences."
In Nottingham, Mr Barrett has introduced an annual veterans' dinner, and a "welcome back" interview where staff returning from deployment share the experiences and training they have received.In Nottingham, Mr Barrett has introduced an annual veterans' dinner, and a "welcome back" interview where staff returning from deployment share the experiences and training they have received.
"We can then put that into their job plans for the future and their promotion prospects or their work within teams," he said."We can then put that into their job plans for the future and their promotion prospects or their work within teams," he said.
Elsewhere, medical practitioners are organising their own events, so the key skills being brought back home can be shared more widely.Elsewhere, medical practitioners are organising their own events, so the key skills being brought back home can be shared more widely.
You can hear Ray Furlong's full report on PM, Thursday 17 December at 1700 GMT on Radio 4 or listen via BBC iplayer.You can hear Ray Furlong's full report on PM, Thursday 17 December at 1700 GMT on Radio 4 or listen via BBC iplayer.